A protrusion of the intestine through the abdominal wall in the area of the upper thigh just below the crease of the groin is called a femoral hernia. This is where the femoral artery and vein leave the abdomen and continue into the leg. There are two symptoms associated with a femoral artery hernia.
Lower Abdominal Lump
One symptom of a femoral hernia is a lump that develops in the lower abdomen near the groin and upper thigh. The femoral artery, vein and nerve leave the abdomen and enter the leg by way of the femoral canal. Usually, this area of the lower abdomen is a tight space. However, it can expand enough to allow the intestines to protrude into the canal. A hernia forms when the contents of the abdominal cavity, most often a portion of the small intestines, protrude through a weak spot or tear in the thin muscular wall that keeps the abdominal organs in place. Sometimes the lump may ache but is not tender when touched and increases in size when standing or with coughing. These symptoms indicated that the hernia is reducible and can be manually pushed back into the abdomen.
Groin Pain
The second symptom of a femoral hernia is discomfort in the groin area that is aggravated by activities such as bending and lifting. According to the Merck Manuals, in rare cases, the hernia traps the intestine tightly that the blood supply is cut off. This complication is called strangulation. The incarcerated portion of intestine can develop gangrene within six hours. In the presence of gangrene, the intestinal wall dies and can rupture and bacteria is released into the abdominal cavity. This leads to a serious infection called peritonitis, shock and, if untreated, death.
Femoral Artery Repair
Since the complication of an incarcerated hernia is always possible, physicians recommend surgical repair of all femoral hernias that cannot be reduced manually. A herniorrhaphy is the surgical procedure performed to reposition the protruding tissue. The staff of the Encyclopedia of Surgery explains that the patient receives either local or general anesthesia and an incision is made in the groin area adjacent to the femoral artery. The surgeon locates the hernia and manually pushes the protruding tissue back into the abdominal cavity. A fine sterile surgical mesh is attached with sutures to the abdominal wall in cases of larger hernias. Femoral hernia repair can be performed in the traditional method with a large surgical incision or in a laparoscopic procedure with a few very small incisions.
