| 1.) What are other pertinent points to be obtained in this history? If the patient is 60 years old, what additional factors may predispose to his complaint and therefore should be elicited in the history?
|
A family history of groin hernia is often strongly positive. Vigorous physical activity itself does not cause an inguinal hernia but may aggravate predisposing factors and precipitate a hernia.
Predisposing factors: increased intraabdominal pressure, smoking, aging, connective tissue disease, some systemic illnesses, ascites, peritoneal dialysis.
The older patient may have prostatic hypertrophy (straining, nocturia, hesitancy, dribbling, etc.), chronic constipation (rule out an obstructing lesion), or chronic lung disease.
|
|
Questions
