Progressively Enlarging in Surgery — 78yo Woman | General Surgery | SMLE Q#12800
SMLE Question #12800
Surgery
General Surgery
Objective: OBJ-TRACH-EMERG-01
Last updated: February 2026
A 78-year-old woman presents with a progressively enlarging, painful bulge along a midline abdominal scar from a sigmoidectomy 5 years ago. The swelling worsens with standing and coughing and partially reduces when she lies down. Examination shows a tender, reducible incisional hernia at the prior laparotomy site with an estimated fascial defect of about 8 cm and no signs of bowel obstruction or skin compromise. She is medically stable and requests definitive treatment because pain limits daily activities. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
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