An eventration is a hernia (exit of any organ or tissue out of the body cavity in which it is normally housed) that appears in the incision area of a previous abdominal surgery.
It occurs as a result of poor healing after abdominal surgery. Factors that may play a role are obesity, advanced age, malnutrition, ascites or liver and kidney problems, the existence of a post-surgical hematoma, smoking or chronic coughing, a history of multiple pregnancies, and lifting heavy objects or performing intense exercise.
The most common symptom is the appearance of a deformity in the abdominal wall in the area of the scar or close to it. It is usually accompanied by discomfort and pain, the degree of which may vary. Other complications that can arise are alterations in the functioning of the intestinal transit causing episodes of obstruction, episodes of incarceration (the viscera are trapped inside the hernia) and strangulation (marked decrease in the circulation of the contents of the intestine or colon) which can lead to perforation of the intestine.
The diagnosis will be made through clinical history and physical examination, confirmed by imaging tests such as ultrasound and/or computed tomography.
Treatment is surgical, to remedy the discomfort, pain or possible complications caused by the eventration.
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