What is an incarcerated inguinal hernia?
If the bulge can be gently pressed back into the abdomen, the hernia is termed reducible. If it cannot be pressed back into the abdomen, the hernia is known as incarcerated (irreducible). When a hernia becomes incarcerated, infants or children will show signs of irritability and may vomit. They may also have loss of appetite, abnormal bowel patterns, and / or tenderness of the groin area and swelling of the abdomen. With a prolonged period of incarceration, the blood supply to the intestine could be cut off, causing it to die. This is referred to as a strangulated hernia — a life-threatening situation that requires urgent surgical attention.
