title: Damage to the vascular structures in inguinal hernia specimens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few scientific reports to date describe the histological modification of structures outlining a hernia opening. This article is focused on the identification of the pathological changes in vascular structures in tissues excised from cadavers with inguinal hernia. A deeper comprehension of this topic could lead to essential improvements in the detection of hernia genesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Different kinds of hernia, including indirect, direct and mixed, were identified in 30 autopsied subjects. Tissue samples were resected for histological study from abdominal wall structures close to the hernia opening. Histological examination focused on the detection of structural changes in arteries and veins. The results were compared with tissue specimens excised from equivalent sites of the inguinal area in a control group of 15 fresh cadavers without hernia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant modification of vascular structures were identified in the tissue specimens examined. The veins demonstrated parietal fibrosis, perivascular edema and vascular dilation due to congestion and stasis. The arterial structures detected showed thickening of the media due to medial hyperplasia, ranging from luminal sub-occlusion to a manifest artery occlusion. These findings are present independent of hernia type in cadavers with inguinal hernia. These pathological changes were lacking in the control group of cadavers without hernia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The notable changes in vascular structures described in the report could be the result of a steady compressive effect exerted by the abdominal viscera in the inguinal area. These pathological changes could represent one of the factors involved in the weakening of the inguinal region leading to hernia protrusion.
authors: Department of General Surgery Urgency, and Organ Transplantation, University of Palermo, via del Vespro, 129-90100 Palermo, Italy. amatomed@gmail.com
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Amato
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Romano
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Salamone
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Agrusa
authors: V A
authors: VA
authors: Saladino
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Silvestri
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bussani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002102:Cadaver; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007264:Inguinal Canal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology