Richter's Hernia
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Richter's hernia is a parietal hernia where only part of the intestinal wall opposite the mesenteric attachment enters the hernial sac, not the entire intestinal loop. It occurs rarely, most commonly in femoral hernias with narrow hernial openings, and requires surgical treatment when strangulated.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
Richter's Hernia (Richter), parietal hernia, in which only part of the intestinal wall opposite the attachment of the mesentery enters the hernial sac, not the entire intestinal loop. First described by Richter. Occurs quite rarely. Zykov collected only 70 cases of R. h. from the literature. Richter's hernia sometimes occurs in the hernial sac alongside other loops that have completely entered the sac. It occurs more frequently in femoral hernias (in 29 out of 70 cases in Zykov). It is most often found with narrow hernial openings. In uncomplicated hernias, the clinical picture differs little from ordinary hernias; however, when strangulated, it presents a picture of only partial strangulation, sometimes very weakly expressed, since there is no complete obstruction of the intestinal lumen and gases, and sometimes feces, continue to pass. These symptoms allow for the diagnosis of parietal strangulation, but at the same time they can be a source of errors and delays in intervention. Treatment is surgical; in cases of gangrene - suturing of the gangrenous section of the intestinal wall or circular resection, depending on the extent of the gangrene.
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Cite this page
“Richter's Hernia.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/richter-s-hernia/