Abdominal Ultrasonography And Colonoscopy Should Be Performed Before Inguinal Hernia Surgery To Identify Factors That Would Increase Intraabdominal Pressure

ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND COLONOSCOPY SHOULD BE PERFORMED BEFORE INGUINAL HERNIA SURGERY TO IDENTIFY FACTORS THAT WOULD INCREASE INTRAABDOMINAL PRESSURE

Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Eren Yuksel

Etlik City Hospital, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Ankara, Turkiye

Introduction: Spermatic cord lipoma, sarcoma, inguinal lipoma, and lymphadenopathy may mimic inguinal hernia. Therefore, ultrasound imaging should be performed routinely to confirm hernias before surgical intervention. Moreover, other intraabdominal pathologies that would increase intraabdominal pressure to cause inguinal hernia should be examined prior to surgery. Thus, we propose a novel approach involving routine abdominal ultrasonography and colonoscopy to evaluate intraabdominal pathologies in patients complaining of inguinal hernia over the age of 50.

Method: Routine abdominal ultrasonography and colonoscopy were included as parts of our diagnostic process for individuals presenting with suspected inguinal hernias. The primary goal of this comprehensive evaluation was to uncover hidden concomitant illnesses causing elevated intraabdominal pressure. This procedure was followed not only in the Department of General Surgery at Ankara Gazi University School of Medicine but also at Zonguldak Devrek State Hospital and Aksaray University School of Medicine.

Result: A significant case emerged among the patients subjected to the proposed comprehensive assessment. A 55-year-old Caucasian male patient with a right inguinal hernia was diagnosed with pancreatic head carcinoma via preoperative abdominal ultrasonography. This finding highlighted the diagnostic power of incorporating routine abdominal imaging into inguinal hernia evaluation.

Conclusion: Our findings support a more nuanced preoperative assessment approach for inguinal hernia patients. Latent intraabdominal pathologies can be revealed by routine abdominal ultrasonography and colonoscopy, particularly in patients with inguinal hernia over the age of 50.

Keywords: abdominal ultrasonography, colonoscopy, inguinal hernia, intraabdominal pressure, preoperative evaluation

4. International Cancer Days, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas,  Turkiye. Date: 29.9.2023