Intestinal Wall Hernia - Information and Specialists

A hernia is an opening in the abdominal wall that may be present at birth or develop later in life. The hernial sac may protrude through this opening, and it may contain portions of the intestine or the intestinal wall. In such cases, doctors refer to it as an intestinal wall hernia or a Littré-Richter hernia.

A hernia is usually recognizable from the outside by a bulge @ wanniwat /AdobeStock

There are traditionally three types of abdominal wall hernias:

• Internal hernias (diaphragmatic hernias)
• External hernias (umbilical hernia, abdominal wall hernia, or midline hernia in the upper abdomen)
• Rare hernias (intestinal wall hernia, Littré-Richter hernia)

Hernias, such as an intestinal wall hernia, can be recognized by a small bulge in the abdomen. During the examination, the doctor will palpate the area to locate the hernia, the hernial sac, and the hernial canal. 

They will also check whether the hernial sac is tender to pressure and whether the tissue can be pushed back into the hernial orifice. When auscultating an intestinal wall hernia, doctors use bowel sounds to determine whether any portions of the intestine are strangulated.

With a hernia, the abdominal wall no longer heals on its own. In fact, the hernial orifice usually becomes larger over time. This increases the risk of the intestine becoming strangulated within the hernia. 

Such intestinal incarceration is a life-threatening complication, as the intestinal tissue can die due to a lack of blood flow. For this reason, doctors recommend surgery for an intestinal wall hernia. During the operation, they close the hernial orifice again. 

The surgeon has several options available for this:

• Minimally Invasive Hernia Surgery

Doctors generally opt for minimally invasive hernia surgery. With this keyhole method, doctors make only small incisions.

As a result:

• Less extensive tissue damage
• A lower risk of infection, and
• A shorter recovery time

Smaller scars and the option for outpatient surgery are the advantages of the minimally invasive procedure.

• Open surgery

However, if the hernia orifice is very large, doctors more often opt for open surgery. This procedure is performed as an inpatient procedure in a hospital and requires a longer recovery period.

In many cases, simply suturing a large hernial orifice is not enough to permanently close the hernia. The abdominal wall lacks the regenerative capacity to repair hernias on its own. 

If doctors were to simply suture the large hernial orifice, the hernia would recur after some time. To prevent this, doctors insert synthetic mesh during the operation.

Have you noticed a visible and/or palpable bulge in your abdominal wall and/or abdominal pain? If so, you should see a doctor immediately.

They will make an initial diagnosis and then refer you directly to a specialist in general and visceral surgery. These specialists practice either in private practice or at a hospital.

Here you’ll find a selection of healthcare providers and specialized clinics for hernia surgery that have particular expertise in treating intestinal wall hernias.