Abdominal wall hernias.

Abdominal wall hernias are usually asymptomatic, discovered incidentally on physical examination. Emergency physicians, however, may be called on to deal with the potential life-threatening complications of abdominal wall hernias. This article discusses the anatomy, pathophysiology, and specific types of hernias in the adult and pediatric patient populations. Also covered are the complications of hernias, emergency interventions for hernia reduction, and urgent surgical consultation.