Hernias in general

1. Big picture

A hernia is one of the most common general surgical problems. The examiner wants you to know the definition, anatomy, types, complications, emergency signs, and principles of repair.

The key surgical question is always:

Is this hernia uncomplicated, obstructed, incarcerated, or strangulated?

Because the dangerous hernia is not the big painless one — it is the painful, tender, irreducible hernia with bowel compromise.

Groin hernia repair is one of the most common operations worldwide, with more than 20 million repairs performed annually, and current international guidelines emphasize individualized repair, usually mesh-based for most adult groin hernias.