Which term describes a hernia in which bowel edema compromises its blood supply?

Which term describes a hernia in which bowel edema compromises its blood supply?

• A. Strangulated
• B. Incarcerated
• C. Reducible
• D. Sliding

Answer: (A)

When a hernia constricts the blood supply to the herniated bowel, venous outflow becomes blocked, leading to edema and ischemia of the bowel tissue. This combination—ischemia due to compromised blood flow—is the hallmark of a strangulated hernia. It goes beyond a trapped (incarcerated) content, where blood flow may still be intact, and signals a surgical emergency because ongoing ischemia can cause tissue necrosis. Reducible hernias can be pushed back and do not imply this blood-flow problem, while sliding hernias involve part of the bowel wall forming part of the hernia sac and are not defined by vascular compromise.

When a hernia constricts the blood supply to the herniated bowel, venous outflow becomes blocked, leading to edema and ischemia of the bowel tissue. This combination—ischemia due to compromised blood flow—is the hallmark of a strangulated hernia. It goes beyond a trapped (incarcerated) content, where blood flow may still be intact, and signals a surgical emergency because ongoing ischemia can cause tissue necrosis. Reducible hernias can be pushed back and do not imply this blood-flow problem, while sliding hernias involve part of the bowel wall forming part of the hernia sac and are not defined by vascular compromise.