Nokea
When performing a genitourinary assessment on a 16-year-old male adolescent, the nurse notices a swelling in the scrotum that increases with increased intra-abdominal pressure and decreases when he is lying down. The patient complains of pain when straining. The nurse knows that this description is most consistent with a(n) ______ hernia.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Indirect inguinal hernia. In an indirect inguinal hernia, the swelling in the scrotum increases with increased intra-abdominal pressure due to the herniation of abdominal contents through the internal inguinal ring. The swelling decreases when lying down because the contents reduce back into the abdominal cavity. Pain with straining is also characteristic of an indirect inguinal hernia.
A: Femoral hernia presents as a bulge in the upper thigh and is more common in females.
B: Incisional hernia occurs at the site of a previous surgical incision and is not typically affected by intra-abdominal pressure.
C: Direct inguinal hernia protrudes directly through the abdominal wall and is typically not palpable in the scrotum.