Umbilical hernia repair Health Article

Definition

Umbilical hernia repair is surgery to repair an umbilical hernia. An umbilical hernia is a weak spot in the inner liningof your belly that allows tissue in your abdomen to push through.

Description

You will probably receive general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free) for this surgery. If your hernia is small, you may receive local anesthesia and medicine to relax you. You will be awake but pain-free.

Your surgeon will make an incision (cut) under your belly button.

• Your surgeon will find your hernia and separate it from the tissues around it. Then your surgeon will either push it back inside your abdomen or remove it.
• Strong stitches will be used to repair the hole or weak spot caused by the umbilical hernia.
• Your surgeon may also lay a piece of mesh over the weak area.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Children:

Umbilical hernias are fairly common. A hernia at birth will push the belly button out. It shows more when a baby cries because the pressure from crying makes it bulge out more.

In infants, the defect is not usually treated with surgery. Most of the time, the umbilical hernia shrinks and closes on its own by the time a child is 3 or 4 years old.

Umbilical hernia repair may be needed in children for these reasons:

• The hernia is stuck in the bulging position.
• Blood supply is affected.
• The hernia has not closed by age 3 or 4.
• The defect is very large or unacceptable to parents because of how it makes their child look. Even in these cases, your child’s doctor may suggest waiting until your child is 3 or 4 to see if it closes on its own.

Adults:

Umbilical hernias are fairly common in adults. They are seen more in overweight people and in women, especially after pregnancy. Most surgeons recommend surgery to repair them, since they tend to get bigger over time.

Without surgery, there is a risk that some fat or part of the intestine will get stuck (incarcerated) in the hernia and become impossible to push back in. This is usually painful. If the blood supply to this area is cut off (strangulation), urgent surgery is needed.

Incarcerated abdominal tissue is stuck, and cannot be freed easily. This may cause nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Get medical care right away if you have a hernia that does not get smaller when you are lying down or that you cannot push back in.