Hernia repair is a surgery that most people are familiar with, either from their own personal experience or through their pets. The majority of hernias do not present as emergencies but on occasion they do. In the case of "Christi" , her inguinal hernia became a problem in need of immediate attention. Fortunately for Christi, she has a wonderful and attentive family. Her symptoms were subtle at first but her owners knew that something was just not right.

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Although a "senior citizen" Christi was new to her adoptive family. They knew she had bilateral inguinal hernias which had never posed her any problems. They planned to have her hernias surgically repaired at a later date as she had other medical issues to attend to first.

Inguinal hernias are abnormal openings of the abdominal wall located in the groin/inguinal area. They can easily be mistaken for fat pads in this location. The noticeable bulge in the groin area in most cases is reducible: the contents of the hernia (most commonly fat and/or loops of intestine, and at times the urinary bladder and /or uterus in female dogs) can be pushed back in to the abdominal cavity with gentle pressure. On rare occasions these structures become stuck in the hernia opening.

Christi’s owners brought her to Southpointe Veterinary Hospital because she had not eaten in over 24 hours and she was reluctant to jump or run; they suspected she might be having discomfort related to her hernias. On physical exam it was evident that Christi had a large, firm, painful swelling in her right inguinal area. In this instance, as in most, history and physical exam were critical factors in arriving at a diagnosis. A tentative diagnosis of an entrapped inguinal hernia was made and immediate surgery to repair it was necessary. When abdominal organs become trapped in hernias their blood supply can become compromised causing life-threatening damage.

At surgery, an incision was made over the tender, swollen area. With careful dissection the hernia was documented , and it in fact had a loop of small intestine trapped in the inguinal opening. There was some swelling and dark discoloration to the intestine, but once the opening was surgically enlarged, the blood flow returned and the appearance of the intestine returned to a healthy pink color. The affected intestinal loop was replaced in to the abdominal cavity and the hernia was closed with suture material.

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Christi’s left inguinal hernia was routinely repaired as well.

We are fortunate to live in a time of high technology and medical advancements.
However, in many cases, the most important factors in arriving at the proper diagnosis are history and physical examination. Christi could not be in a more attentive family; their observations and immediate reaction to Christi’s discomfort allowed her diagnosis and treatment to be fast and effective. She suffered no additional problems related to her hernias and continues to lead a well loved and healthy life.