richter hernia

Richter hernias, also known as parietal hernias, (alternative plural: herniae) are an abdominal hernia where only a portion of the bowel wall is herniated and comprise 10% of strangulated hernias. These hernias progress more rapidly to gangrene than other strangulated hernias but obstruction is less frequent.

Pathology

In contrast to most other types of hernia, only the antimesenteric wall of the bowel herniates without compromising the entire lumen. This herniation is usually through a small, firm defect in the abdominal wall. Although any part of the bowel can be affected, the terminal ileum is most frequently involved.

Richter hernias can occur at :

• femoral ring (36-88%)
• inguinal ring (12-36%)
• abdominal wall incisional hernia (4-25%)
• rare: umbilical, ventral, Spigelian, supravesical, sacral foramen, triangle of Petit, retrosternal, and diaphragmatic hernias
• trocar ports for laparoscopic surgery (port site hernia)

Radiographic features

CT

A focal protrusion of the antimesenteric wall of a bowel loop into a small defect in the abdominal wall.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound can identify the fascial defect as well as the part of the bowel that enters the hernial sac.

Treatment and prognosis

Surgical management is often necessary .

Complications

Venous circulation of the incarcerated hernia is impaired, which can result in bowel infarction and gangrene. Perforation into the hernial sac can progress to an enterocutaneous fistula if left untreated. If perforation occurs after the necrotic segment has receded into the abdomen, then abscess formation or even fecal peritonitis could be the sequelae .

History and etymology

The first description was given by German surgeon August Gottlieb Richter (1742-1812) in 1778 in his "Treatise on the Ruptures", but the first case was described by Fabricius Hildanus (1560-1634) as early as 1606 .

See also

• abdominal hernias

Siehe auch:

• Bauchwandhernien
• Spieghel-Hernie
• Littre´sche Hernie

und weiter:

• incarcerated Richter hernia