William Radcliffe, a 30-year-old truck driver scheduled for repair of bilateral inguinal hernias, has history of obesity, smoker’s cough, and heavy lifting following a previous inguinal hernia repair. The most likely cause for the herniation is:
Explanation
Answer - C - Coughing, vigorous exercise, and straining or lifting increase intra-abdominal pressures, which tend to extrude the intestines through weakened areas of the abdominal wall. This client’s history includes all of the above. Other causes of hernia include combinations of Choices A, B, and D; alone, they are less likely causes.
