RUPTURE (Hernia)

Categories: Digestive Organs

Hernia means a protrusion of an organ from its natural
cavity, through normal or artificial openings in the surrounding

structures. But by the term hernia, used alone, we mean the protrusion of

a portion of the abdominal contents through the walls, and that is known

by the popular term of "rupture."







The most common forms of rupture protrude through one of the natural

openings or weak pots in the abdominal walls, as for instance, the

inguinal (groin) and femoral canals. The femoral canal is located at the

upper and inner part of the thigh, and this place is a seat of rupture,

especially in women. Rupture may also occur at the navel, when it is

called umbilical hernia or rupture. The contents of a hernia are bowel and

omentum (a covering of the bowel) separately or together. The bowel

involved in a rupture is usually the lower portion of the small bowel, but

the large bowel is sometimes affected. A sac covers the bowel or omentum

in a rupture. This sac consists of the protruded portion of peritoneum,

which has been gradually pushed through one of the canals (inguinal or

femoral) or of the process of peritoneum, which has been carried down by

the testicle in its descent, and the connection of which with the

peritoneum of the abdomen still continues, not having been obliterated, as

it usually is before birth. The former is called an acquired rupture sac;

the latter is a congenital rupture sac, and it is found only in groin

(inguinal rupture).



Causes. Rupture is more common in men than in women. It may occur at any

time of life. The majority of cases occur before middle age, and the

largest number during the first ten years of life, owing to the want of

closure of the peritoneum which is carried down by the testicles before

birth. Rupture is most frequently strangulated between the ages of forty

and fifty.



Location. The great majority of cases of rupture are groin or inguinal

rupture.



Symptoms. A fullness or a swelling is first noticed in the groin, which

is made worse in standing, coughing and lifting. This disappears on lying

down and reappears on rising in many cases, even at first; coughing makes

the lump or swelling harder. It may come on both sides, when it is called

double rupture or hernia.



MOTHERS' REMEDIES. Rupture, Poultice for. "Take equal parts of lobelia

and stramonium leaves; make a poultice and apply to the parts. Renew as

often as necessary. This combination makes a very effective poultice and

is sure to give relief."



PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT. A person should wear a truss (support) that fits

perfectly, and this should not cause any pain or discomfort. The truss

should be worn all day, taken off at night after going to bed and put on

before rising, when still lying down. If it is put on after rising a

little of the gut may be in the canal and pressed down by the support.

There are many kinds of supports.



Operations now performed for rupture are very successful if the patient

takes good care for months afterwards until the parts are thoroughly

healed. The operation simply closes a too large opening. The testicles

descending through the groin canal from the abdominal cavity before birth

and in congenital rupture, left too big an opening. In acquired rupture,

these natural openings were enlarged by lifting, falls, etc. The round

ligament of the womb goes down through this canal and sometimes there is

too large an opening left or acquired by accident.