OVERVIEW
Umbilical hernias are common in newborn babies but it can affect adults through. Usually children with lower birth weight and premature infants are may have an umbilical hernia.
Umbilical hernia is a type of Hernia it occurs in belly button. This type of hernia is because of; the baby’s abdominal wall is not completely close before birth.
A weakness in the muscle around the umbilicus allows to poke out the tissues of the abdomen through muscle. An umbilical cord will create an area where hernia can easily affect.
Doctors will not recommend immediate surgery because most of umbilical hernias close by itself when the child is 4-5 years old. If it doesn’t close by itself then also waiting will simplify the surgery. Hernia will become smaller gradually.
SYMPTOMS
An umbilical hernia looks like a lump in belly. It will be more clearly when the infant do things like laughing, crying, going to the toilet, coughing, etc. When the child gets relaxed the lump will shrink.
Consult your physician in the following cases,
- Severe pain.
- Vomiting
- The bulge becomes bigger and discolored.
In case you are not able to push the bulge flat against the abdomen.
DIAGNOSIS
A physical test will be enough for a doctor to diagnosis the umbilical hernia. If they identified hernia with any complications then they will suggest X-Ray, blood test or abdominal ultrasound for further treatments.
TREATMENT
In the case of children 90 % umbilical hernia will self-resolve.
Infants: In the case of majority of infants, the hernia will closes by itself before the first year of birth. Doctors may be able to push the hernia back to position. Don’t try this in home only a doctor can do this.
Doctor will suggest surgery in the following cases
- Hernia remains or grows even after the child turn 1 year old.
- If the intestines are within hernial sac, and preventing intestinal functions.
- If a hernia becomes trapped then also a surgery is needed.
Adults: In the case of adults for sure surgery is needed. Otherwise many complications will be there especially if the hernia started to grow or starts paining.
SURGERY
The surgery for Umbilical hernia is a simple and quick operation. In this surgery the hernia is push back into place to strengthen the abdominal wall. It’s only a matter of one day.
The Surgeon will make an incision at the base of the belly button and pushes back the lump or bowel into the abdomen.
Two types of surgeries are there for Umbilical hernia
- Open surgery
In open surgery the surgeon will open the area under the belly button and repair the hernia by using mesh and stitching the muscle together.
- Laparoscopic surgery
In laparoscopic surgery the mesh and sutures will be pass through small incisions near the belly button. Muscle layers in the weak area of abdomen wall will stitched. For closing the wounds dissolvable stitches or special glue are used.
Sometimes the surgeon may apply a pressure dressing on the hernia. An umbilical hernia operation usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes. 20 to 30 minutes is enough for completing an umbilical hernia operation.