Umbilical Hernia

Umbilical Hernia

What is an umbilical hernia?

Unlike most hernias, which develop in adolescence or adulthood, twenty pct of babies are born with umbilical hernias. An umbilical hernia occurs at the bellybutton (omphalos) when a loop of intestine pushes through the umbilical ring, a pocket-size opening in a fetus' abdominal muscles through which the umbilical cord—which connects a fetus to its mother while in the womb—passes. Umbilical hernias occur well-nigh oftentimes in newborns, and 90 per centum will naturally close by the time the child reaches 5 years of age.

Umbilical Hernia Causes

Afterwards nascence, the umbilical cord is no longer necessary, and the opening in the abdominal muscles closes as the baby matures. Sometimes, these muscles do not encounter completely, leaving a small-scale hole or gap. A loop of intestine can move into and even penetrate the opening between abdominal muscles and cause a hernia.
Umbilical hernias occur well-nigh often in infants simply can too occur in adults. The about common causes of umbilical hernias in adults are:

  • Chronic health conditions that heighten abdominal pressure level, including:

    • Carrying excessive abdomen fluid (ascites)

    • Chronic cough

    • Difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate

    • Prolonged constipation

    • Repetitive vomiting

  • Obesity

  • Straining such as during child nascence or weight lifting

Umbilical Hernia Diagnosis

Hernias are normally diagnosed during a physical examination by a wellness care provider. The provider will look and feel for a bulge or swelling in the belly push area. The swelling may be more noticeable when a baby cries and may get smaller or go abroad when a baby relaxes or rests on its back. During the test, the provider will decide if the hernia is reducible—if it tin be pushed back into the abdominal crenel.

The provider will likewise look for and complete a medical history to determine if the umbilical hernia has become incarcerated (trapped within the abdominal opening), a serious medical status in which the protruding intestine becomes trapped and deprived of claret supply. The intestine tin apace become necrotic if not repaired, which requires surgical removal of the afflicted intestine. Symptoms of a strangulated umbilical hernia include:

  • Abdominal pain and tenderness

  • Constipation

  • Fever

  • Full, round abdomen

  • Blood-red, royal, dark or discolored bulge

  • Vomiting

The provider may club blood tests to look for signs of infection resulting from the strangulated intestine. They may also order a barium X-ray, ultrasound, MRI or CT to examine the intestine more closely, especially if the hernia is no longer reducible.

Umbilical Hernia Treatments

Specific umbilical hernia handling and timing will exist determined by the surgeon based on multiple factors such as the child'due south age, general health, medical history and whether the hernia is reducible or strangulated. By age 1, many umbilical hernias will have closed on their own without surgery. Nearly all umbilical hernias will have airtight without surgery past age 5.

In general, if the hernia becomes bigger with age, is non reducible or is still nowadays later on age 3, the child'south provider may suggest that the hernia be repaired surgically. If the hernia is strangulated and cannot gently be pushed or massaged back into its proper place within the abdomen, the surgeon volition more often than not recommend immediate surgery.

Under general anesthesia, a minor incision is made in the umbilicus (umbilicus). The loop of intestine is placed back into the abdominal cavity, and the incision closed. Sometimes a piece of mesh textile is used to help strengthen the area where the muscles are repaired.