Incarcerated Ventral Hernia The patient presented with a severe abdominal pain and distention. Physical exam revealed large ventral hernia that could not be reduced into the abdominal cavity.
 
The CT image is shown above. Both decompressed (distal) and distended (proximal) loops of the small bowel are present in the hernia sac. This is likely due to the strangulation of the small intestine (and vascular supply) by the hernia.
 
The patient was taken for an exploratory laparotomy where small bowel obstruction was relieved and the ventral hernia was repaired.