Table Of Contents
- What is Umbilical Hernia?
- What are the causes of Umbilical Hernia?
- What are the symptoms of Umbilical Hernia?
- How is Umbilical Hernia diagnosed?
- What are the risk factors associated with an umbilical hernia?
- What is the treatment for Umbilical Hernia?
- Surgery
- What is the recovery time after Umbilical Hernia treatment?
What is Umbilical Hernia?
An umbilical hernia happens when a section of your intestine bulges through the gap in your abdominal muscles around your belly button. Umbilical hernias are quite common and are usually unproblematic.
Although umbilical hernias are common in infants, they can also affect adults. An umbilical hernia in an infant is identified when the baby cries, causing the belly button to protrude, which is the usual sign of a hernia in the umbilical cord.
Umbilical hernias in children usually close on their own within the first two years of life. However, some remain open for up to five years. Umbilical hernias in adults are likely to undergo surgery to fix the issue.
What are the causes of Umbilical Hernia?
The causes of umbilical hernia differ per age.
Causes in babies
A tiny opening occurs in the abdominal muscles as the baby develops in the womb. The umbilical cord can pass via this hole.
The opening should close around the time of birth or shortly thereafter. If this does not occur entirely, fatty tissue or a piece of the bowel may protrude, resulting in an umbilical hernia.
Causes in adults
When the abdominal wall is strained, some fatty tissue or a segment of the colon can protrude through the weak section of the abdominal muscle.
Individuals at high-risk are more likely to have pressure differences in areas where fatty tissue or sections of the intestines can stick out.
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord enters via a small opening in the baby’s abdominal muscles. Usually, the opening closes shortly after birth. If the muscles
don’t attach to the center of the abdominal wall, an umbilical hernia may appear during birth or later in life.
In adults, umbilical hernias occur because of too much abdominal pressure. Increased abdominal pressure can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Obesity
- Multiple pregnancies
- Fluid in the abdominal cavity
- Prior abdominal surgery
- Long-term peritoneal dialysis for treating kidney failure
What are the symptoms of Umbilical Hernia?
A lump in the navel is a sign of an umbilical hernia. When the baby is laughing, crying, coughing, or going to the bathroom, it may become more visible. The lump may decrease or disappear altogether when the baby is resting and relaxed.
The common symptoms of an umbilical hernia vary from case to case. Irrespective of the hernia size, if the abdominal wall tightens around it, blood flow to the bulge is cut off, resulting in pain. The pain might be minimal to severe.
Visit the doctor if your bulge:
- Becomes severely painful
- Occurs with vomiting
- It swells up and starts to become dark, purple, or red
- It doesn’t decrease when you lie down
How is Umbilical Hernia diagnosed?
The healthcare practitioner will diagnose an umbilical hernia during diagnosis. He can tell you what kind of hernia you have. If it involves the bowel, for instance, there is a chance of obstruction.
An abdominal scan, an X-ray, or blood tests may be requested by the doctor for proper diagnosis.
What are the risk factors associated with an umbilical hernia?
Umbilical hernias are most common in babies, particularly premature and low-birth-weight babies.
Adults who are overweight or have had several pregnancies are more likely to develop an umbilical hernia. Women are more likely to develop this sort of hernia.
What is the treatment for Umbilical Hernia?
Most umbilical hernias in infants disappear within two years without the need for any treatment. A doctor may, however, advise surgery if:
- the intestines are trapped inside the hernial sac, stopping or reducing intestinal mobility
- the hernia is bigger than 1.5 cm wide in children over the age of two
- the hernia area starts to change skin color
- the hernia creates discomfort
If a hernia ruptures, immediate surgery is required. Hernia ruptures, on the other hand, are extremely uncommon.
Adult hernias are unlikely to heal on their own as children’s hernias. So they are prone to complications, and the likelihood of undergoing surgery is higher.
Surgery
Umbilical hernia surgery is a quick procedure that takes about 20–30 minutes to complete. In most circumstances, the patient will be able to return home the same day of surgery.
An incision is made near the navel, and the projecting tissue is pushed back into the abdomen. Depending on the situation, surgeons may perform open or laparoscopic surgery.
In many circumstances, the surgeon will subsequently close the opening by stitching the abdominal wall muscles together. They may employ specific meshes to strengthen the area and avoid a recurrence.
How to prepare yourself for surgery?
Doctors will advise you to avoid eating or drinking prior to surgery. To lessen the risk of bleeding, you may also need to stop taking anticoagulant drugs.
The majority of surgeons perform umbilical hernia surgery while the patient is under local anesthesia. However, before surgery, the anesthesiologist will walk you through the whole procedure.
Post-surgery care
You may experience pain and discomfort at the operation site once you are discharged from the hospital. Take painkillers, wear loose clothing, and avoid vigorous activity to alleviate the discomfort.
You may notice swelling around the site for a few weeks.
The surgeon will apply a pressure dressing occasionally to the hernia to avoid infection as it is mandatory to keep the area clean and dry.
Make sure to wear hernia supporting garments that will help you to heal faster and improve your activity levels.
Care for children after surgery
- The medical practitioner will give you prescription pain killers to keep the child comfortable.
- Don’t let your child do any activities such as riding a bike, gyms, wrestling, or any sports.
- Prevent constipation by feeding your child with high-fiber foods, vegetables, and fruits. Make sure they drink plenty of water.
- Give your child a sponge bath for a few days post-surgery.
What is the recovery time after Umbilical Hernia treatment?
Within a few days, your kid will be back to their regular activities. If it is a larger hernia, it may take up to two weeks for the child to recover.
After 3-4 weeks of surgery, you should see your child’s doctor for a follow-up appointment. The doctor will examine the operated area and ask about the patient’s recovery.
Can Umbilical Hernia recur?
The success rate of umbilical hernia repair surgery is very high. It may recur in rare cases (come back). If this occurs, your child’s doctor will discuss treatment choices with you.
To Summarize,
Children’s umbilical hernia surgery is a quick, painless procedure with outstanding results. Within a few days of umbilical hernia surgery, your child will be able to resume normal activities. When the section of the intestine pushes through an opening in the abdominal wall, it is called an umbilical hernia. Umbilical hernias disappear by the time a child is 3-4 years old. However, the hernia may persist or get larger and more complex in rare cases. If you see a bulge around your child’s navel area, consult your doctor.
