An umbilical hernia happens when part of the bowel or fatty tissue pushes through a zone close to the belly button. There are various types of hernia. An umbilical hernia happens when there is a deformity in the front abdominal wall that underlies the umbilicus, or navel.
It is common in babies and newborn children, however, it can also impact adults as well. Umbilical hernias are effectively treatable, they can turn into serious conditions during uncommon events. Let’s understand more about the cause, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of umbilical hernia.
Quick Insights on Umbilical Hernia
- It’s common in infants born preterm.
- Generally, they are not painful, however, if an umbilical hernia turns sore, consult with a doctor.
- Obesity is one of the risk factors for umbilical hernias.
- Through physical examination, it is easy to identify and diagnose umbilical hernias.
What is an umbilical hernia?
The mother and her baby connect with the umbilical cord while in the womb. The umbilical cord in babies’ go through a small opening between their abdominal wall muscles. In many cases, the gap closes in sometime after birth.
An umbilical hernia happens when the abdominal wall layers don’t join as they should and the intestines or other tissues from inside the abdominal cavity swell through the weak area around the belly button. Approximately, 20% of children are born with an umbilical hernia.
Umbilical hernias are normally painless conditions and don’t bring any distress. Approximately, 90% of umbilical hernias will generally settle all alone. If an umbilical hernia doesn’t close on time by the child is 4 years of age, a baby will need treatment to fix an umbilical hernia.
Umbilical Hernia In adults
Umbilical hernias can likewise develop in grown-ups, particularly if an individual is clinically overweight, lifting heavy items, or have a constant cough. Risk of developing an umbilical hernia increases in women who have had multiple pregnancies.
The risk of this type of hernia is very much common among infants and in females.
What are the symptoms of Umbilical Hernia?
An umbilical hernia is a lump in the navel. It may turn out to be more evident when the baby is laughing, crying, passing stools, or coughing. The lump may disappear or shrink when a child is sleeping or laying down.
Umbilical hernias in infants or children are generally not painful and don’t create any discomfort. Although in adults, an individual might feel pain or distress if a hernia grows in size.
When to consult a doctor:
Consult a doctor in the following condition:
- The lump becomes painful and causes discomfort.
- Vomiting happens, joined by a lump.
- The lump swells up more or becomes stained.
- The lump was able to push flat against the stomach, however, now it cannot be leveled without pain or discomfort.
What is the Risk of an umbilical hernia?
The significant risk factors that cause umbilical hernias are:
- Over-weight: People who are overweight among children and adults are at higher risk of developing an umbilical hernia as compared to people who have normal body weight based on their height and age.
- Age: Newborn children, particularly those conceived preterm, have a higher risk of an umbilical hernia as compared to adults.
- Constant Coughing: Long-term consistent cough increase the risk of umbilical hernia since the stress of coughing puts pressure on the stomach wall.
- Multiple pregnancies: If a woman is pregnant with more than one baby, the chances of umbilical hernia increase.
What are the causes of Umbilical Hernia?
The causes of umbilical hernia may vary across age groups.
In-Infants: As the baby grows in the womb, a little opening structure develops in the abdominal muscles. This opening permits the umbilical cord to go through. This connects the mother to the baby.
At the time of birth or not long after the opening should close. In case, it doesn’t close appropriately, fatty tissue or portion of the bowel can jab through and cause an umbilical hernia.
In-Adults: If there is a lot of pressure on the stomach wall, fatty tissue or a part of the bowel can jab through a weak abdominal muscle area. People at high risk are bound to experience more pressure on the abdominal wall where fatty tissue or parts of the gut can protrude.
How to diagnose an umbilical hernia?
Umbilical hernia can be diagnosed during a physical examination by your doctor. Likewise, doctors have the option to figure out what kind of hernia is it. If it includes the bowel, for instance, there might be a risk of congestion. To screen for the complications of a hernia, your doctor may suggest an abdominal ultrasound, X-ray, or blood test.
Treatment of Umbilical Hernia
In a few cases, it doesn’t require any treatment as it self-resolves. However, this may not always be the situation, particularly in adults.
Babies and children: For many newborn children, the hernia closes without treatment by the age of a year. At times, the doctor might have the option to push the lump once again into the abdomen. It is significant that only the doctor should do this.
It may request surgery, if:
- the hernia doesn’t self-resolve even after the child is 1 to 2 years of age
- the lump is as yet present by the age of 4 years
- the intestines are inside the hernial sac, forestalling or decreasing intestinal development
- a hernia gets trapped
Adults: Umbilical Surgery is mainly suggested for adults. This can forestall possible complications, particularly if the hernia grows or begin to hurt.
How to prepare for umbilical hernia surgery?
Hernia surgical procedure is a small and quick surgery to push the lump once again into the right spot and reinforce the abdominal wall. In many cases, the patient will be able to go home after surgery.
According to Southlake General Surgery, either open or laparoscopic surgery might be used under treatment.
In open surgery, the surgeon will open the site with an incision and fix the hernia by using mesh and close the opening with stitches.
In laparoscopic surgery or Keyhole Surgery: The surgeon makes several smaller incisions around the hernia lump area to insert a long thin tube with a lighted micro camera on the end into one of the incisions and the surgeon delicately places the bulging intestine, inserts the synthetic mesh to strengthen the affected area and sutures will be pass through small incisions.
Self-dissolvable stitches or special glue are used to close the incisions and are covered with pressure dressing, which stays in place for 4 to 5 days. The duration of the operation is about 30 minutes.
How much will it cost for surgery?
SOUTHLAKE GENERAL SURGERY provides competitive prices for state-of-the-art procedures with ZERO COST EMI PLAN and POST-SURGERY FOLLOW-UP for their patients. We are in a Network of Major Insurance companies where your policy allows you to have surgery with us. To know more about the cost of treatment, you can contact our healthcare expert at +1 (817) 748-0200 or submit your inquiries online. Click here.
What will be the complications of umbilical hernia surgery?
Normally there will not be any complications, it is very rare to have any complexities in children after surgery.
However, if the protrusion gets stuck and can’t be pushed back into the stomach cavity, the very first concern is that the intestines may lose blood supply and get damaged. If the blood circulation to the intestine is blocked, there will be a risk of gangrene and a threat to life due to infections. This condition is rare in adults and even very rare in children.
Recovery after umbilical hernia surgery
You’ll be shifted to a recovery room after the surgery. Hospital staff will screen your vital signs, including your breathing, oxygenation, pulse, temperature, and blood pressure. Most hernia repair surgery is done on an outpatient premise. This implies you’ll probably have the option to return home the same day or after 24 hours.
Your surgeon will prescribe pain-relieving drugs and guide you to keep your stitches clean and dry. They’ll plan a subsequent appointment inside within a month to examine your healing rate. Many individuals can resume their normal activities after a few weeks of the surgery. It’s feasible for another umbilical hernia to create later on, yet this is genuinely uncommon.
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