Gastric involvement in abdominal wall hernias

Six cases of abdominal wall hernias involving the stomach are reported. Three of the hernias were incisional, 2 were epigastric, and 1 was umbilical. All the patients were middle-aged or elderly women. In 2 cases, the gastric herniation produced gastric outlet obstruction with resulting severe dehydration and electrolyte disturbances. Radiographically, the abnormality involved deformity of the stomach with shortening in the frontal views. Lateral profile views were essential in demonstrating the cause of this deformity. In 5 cases, there was mesenteroaxial torsion of the herniated stomach so that the efferent limb of the hernia was superior to the afferent limb. Two of these were associated with obstruction which developed at the neck of the efferent limb.