WHAT IS FEMORAL HERNIA?

Femoral hernias occur just below the inguinal ligament, when abdominal contents pass into the weak area at the posterior wall of the femoral canal. Femoral hernias are more common in women than in men.

They typically present as a groin lump and may or may not be associated with pain. Often, they present with a varying degree of complication ranging from irreducibility through intestinal obstruction to frank gangrene of contained bowel. The incidence of strangulation in femoral hernias is high. A femoral hernia has often been found to be the cause of unexplained small bowel obstruction.

TREATMENT

Like most other hernias, femoral hernias need surgical intervention. Although it should be done as an elective procedure, yet because of the high incidence of complications femoral hernias often need emergency surgery.

Surgery may be performed under general or local anesthesia. There are three approaches to surgery:
•  Lockwood’s infra-inguinal approach: It is the preferred method for elective repair.
•  Lotheissen's trans-inguinal approach: It involves dissecting through the inguinal canal and carries the risk of weakening the inguinal canal.
•  McEvedy's high approach: is preferred in the emergency setting when strangulation is suspected. This allows better access to and visualisation of bowel for possible resection.

Repair is either performed by suturing the inguinal ligament to the pectineal ligament using strong non-absorbable sutures or by placing a mesh plug in the femoral ring.

For affordable femoral hernia treatment, please contact Healthbase. Healthbase is a medical tourism expert connecting patients to leading hospitals worldwide. Healthbase also offers medical tourism plans for self-insured businesses and insurance companies looking for affordable healthcare benefits for employees or clients.