digestive disorders
Abdominal Wall Hernias
Incarceration and strangulation
Sometimes, a loop of intestine or a piece of fat becomes stuck in the hernia, a condition called incarceration. An incarcerated hernia can block (obstruct) the intestine. Rarely, the hernia traps the intestine so tightly that it cuts off the blood supply, a condition called strangulation. With strangulation, the trapped piece of intestine can develop gangrene in as few as 6 hours. With gangrene, the intestinal wall dies, usually causing rupture, which leads to Peritonitis (inflammation and usually infection of the abdominal cavity), shock, and, if untreated, death. Intestinal strangulation (cutting off of the blood supply to the intestine) usually results from one of three causes: Incarceration and strangulation , 