In a Richter's hernia, the unique feature compared to a standard incarcerated hernia is:

• A Only the antimesenteric wall of the bowel is incarcerated, so intestinal obstruction is absent ✓
• B The hernia contains only omentum without bowel
• C It involves only the sigmoid colon in the left femoral ring
• D The entire bowel loop is incarcerated with its mesentery

Explanation

Richter's hernia involves only part of the bowel circumference (typically the antimesenteric border) becoming incarcerated, without involving the full lumen. Because the intestinal continuity is not interrupted, features of bowel obstruction are absent, making diagnosis more difficult. However, the incarcerated segment can strangulate and perforate silently, leading to peritonitis without prior obstructive symptoms. It most commonly occurs in the femoral ring.

Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.