K41.40: Unilateral or unspecified femoral hernia, with gangrene Not specified as recurrent hernia

You have a hernia under the groin. This is also called a femoral hernia.

The abdominal wall is the front part of the abdomen. The abdominal wall is made up of various layers. From the outermost to the innermost, the layers are: the skin, the fatty tissue, the muscles and various connective tissue layers. The abdominal wall is very solid. The organs thus remain in the abdomen even at high pressure. The abdominal wall has weak points in some places. At these weaker points, the abdominal wall is thinner, or there are natural gaps in the abdominal wall. One weakness, for example, are the groins between the abdomen and the thighs. If the connective tissue is weaker, tissue can bulge out of the abdominal cavity through the weak spot. Tissue from the intestine may also push through into the bulge. If the weak point is especially small, the intestines may jam in the gap. The blood supply may then be cut off. In that case, the intestines are no longer properly supplied with blood and can thus be damaged. If this condition lasts too long, the intestines may necrotize.

A femoral hernia has formed beneath your groin. .

With a femoral hernia, the protrusion always remains covered by fatty tissue and the skin. The protrusion below the groin is particularly visible when pressure in the abdomen is high. That may occur for instance during coughing or squeezing. Pressure in the abdomen also increases with heavy lifting.

In your case, the intestines are jammed in the gap. As a result, the blood supply was cut off. The intestines were then no longer properly supplied with blood and were severely damaged. As a result, one part of the intestines is dead.