Is Umbilical Hernia Repair Necessary

A hernia occurs when an internal office of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall.

Your muscles are usually strong and tight plenty to keep your organs and intestines in identify, only a hernia tin can develop if there are whatsoever weak spots.

What is an umbilical hernia?

Umbilical hernias are very mutual in infants and young children, particularly in babies built-in prematurely.

An umbilical hernia appears every bit a painless lump in or near the bellybutton (belly button).

It may get bigger when laughing, coughing, crying or going to the toilet and may shrink when relaxing or lying down.

In many cases, the umbilical hernia goes back in and the muscles reseal before the kid'south get-go birthday.

Umbilical hernias can also develop in adults. Without treatment, the hernia will probably become worse over fourth dimension.

For information on other types of hernia, meet:

• inguinal hernia
• femoral hernia
• hiatus hernia

What causes an umbilical hernia?

During pregnancy, the umbilical cord passes through an opening in the infant'southward abdomen (stomach). This opening should shut shortly after nascence, simply in some cases the muscles don't seal completely.

This leaves a weak spot in the surrounding muscle wall (abdominal wall). An umbilical hernia can develop when fat tissue or a role of the bowel pokes through into an area near the navel.

In adults, factors that tin contribute to developing an umbilical hernia include:

• being overweight or obese
• straining while moving or lifting heavy objects
• having a persistent heavy cough
• having a multiple pregnancy (such as twins or triplets)

When is surgery needed?

If necessary, umbilical hernias can be treated with surgery to push the burl dorsum into place and strengthen the weakness in the abdominal wall.

This performance may be recommended for your child if the hernia is large or hasn't disappeared by the time they reach 3 or four years old.

You'll usually be advised to wait for your child to reach this historic period because the functioning isn't essential unless there are complications. The chance of your child developing complications is very low.

Surgery is recommended for most adults with an umbilical hernia considering the hernia is unlikely to become better past itself when y'all're older and the risk of complications is college.

Complications that can develop as a result of an umbilical hernia include:

• obstacle – where a section of the bowel becomes stuck exterior the abdomen, causing nausea, vomiting and pain
• strangulation – where a section of bowel becomes trapped and its blood supply is cut off; this requires emergency surgery within hours to release the trapped tissue and restore its blood supply so it doesn't dice

Surgery will get rid of the hernia and forbid whatever serious complications, although at that place's a chance of information technology returning after the performance.

Repairing an umbilical hernia

An umbilical hernia repair is a relatively simple process that normally takes about xx to thirty minutes. General anaesthetic is commonly used so there's no hurting while the operation is carried out.

In children, the weak spot in the abdominal wall is usually closed with stitches. If the hernia is large or in adults, a special mesh may be used to strengthen the expanse instead.

You or your child should be able to go home on the same 24-hour interval as the operation. You may feel a bit sore and uncomfortable while you recover.

You'll need to limit strenuous activities for a few weeks afterward the operation, and i or 2 weeks off school or work is often recommended. Well-nigh people are able to return to all their normal activities within a month of surgery.

Read more about:

• how an umbilical hernia repair is performed
• recovering from an umbilical hernia repair

Are at that place any risks from surgery?

Complications from an umbilical hernia repair are uncommon, but tin include:

• infection of the wound – it may appear reddish, have a yellowish discharge and be painful or swollen
• bleeding
• rupture of the wound
• the hernia may render
• the omphalos may wait different

These complications occur in less than 1 in x people (less than x%).

Folio last reviewed: 07 August 2018
Side by side review due: 07 August 2021

Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/umbilical-hernia-repair/

Posted by: johnsonhoullich.blogspot.com

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