Sonographic features of internal hernia.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this series is to describe the sonographic findings in 4 patients with intestinal obstruction due to internal hernia.


METHODS
Four patients had clinical features of intestinal obstruction. Sonography was performed with broadband convex and linear array transducers in these patients.


RESULTS
In all 4 patients, there were features of intestinal obstruction with a zone of transition between dilated and nondilated bowel. There was a cluster of crowded, compressed, and aperistaltic small-bowel loops, as if they were tightly packed within a sac, by the side of this zone in 3 patients. This appearance was due to obstruction of the afferent loop caused by compression. In the last patient, there were 2 loops of dilated bowel within a sac outlined by fluid due to obstruction of the efferent loop. All 4 patients had obstructed internal hernias at laparotomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonographic features of internal hernia are described.
Vijayaraghavan
S Boopathy
SB
Sonoscan Ultrasonic Scan Centre, Coimbatore, India. sonoscan@vsnl.com
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D046449:Hernia, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography