Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Internal hernia

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Contributors: Cafer Zorkun M.D., PhD.


Overview

Overview

  • Protrusion of the viscera through the peritoneum or mesentery and into a compartment in the abdominal cavity. [1] [2]
  • Most common presentation is an acute intestinal obstruction of small bowel loops that develops through normal or abnormal apertures.
  • Responsible hernial orifices are usually preexisting anatomic structures, such as foramina, recesses, and fossae.
  • Pathologic defects of the mesentery and visceral peritoneum, which are caused by congenital mechanisms, surgery, trauma, inflammation, and circulation, are also potential herniation orifices.
Types of internal hernias

Types of internal hernias

  • Foramen of Winslow
  • Paraduodenal
  • Transmesenteric
  • Transomental
  • Pericecal
  • Sigmoid mesocolon
  • Supravesical
  • Pelvic hernias
Diagnostic Findings

Diagnostic Findings

Computed Tomography

  • Encapsulation of distended bowel loops with an abnormal location, arrangement or crowding of small-bowel loops within the hernial sac, evidence of obstruction with segmental dilatation and stasis.
  • Mesenteric vessel abnormalities, with engorgement, crowding, twisting, and stretching of these vessels

Patient #1: Patient presents with intermittent abdominal pain. The patient had a history of gastric bypass

Images courtesy of RadsWiki

References

References

  1. Martin, Lucie C., Merkle, Elmar M., Thompson, William M. Review of Internal Hernias: Radiographic and Clinical Findings. Am. J. Roentgenol. 2006 186: 703-717.
  2. Nobuyuki Takeyama, Takehiko Gokan, Yoshimitsu Ohgiya, Shuichi Satoh, Takashi Hashizume, Kiyoshi Hataya, Hiroshi Kushiro, Makoto Nakanishi, Mitsuo Kusano, and Hirotsugu Munechika. CT of Internal Hernias. RadioGraphics 2005 25: 997-1015.
External Links

Template:Skin and subcutaneous tissue symptoms and signs Template:Nervous and musculoskeletal system symptoms and signs Template:Urinary system symptoms and signs Template:Cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour symptoms and signs Template:Speech and voice symptoms and signs Template:General symptoms and signs


Template:WikiDoc Sources

Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH