Treatment of Umbilical Hernia

About the disease

Umbilical hernia is a protrusion of bowel or its fatty tissue, which protrudes through the area close to belly button. It can develop if a person has weak abdominal wall. This condition is most common in newborn babies, whose abdominal walls have not become strong yet. This is common among babies who have been born prematurely under 1.5 kg of initial weight. According to Medical News Today, 75% of all cases are attributed to prematurely born babies. This condition can also develop if muscles which were disconnected from umbilical cord have not sealed completely after the birth. Usually umbilical hernia in babies resolves on its own over the course of first 12 months of baby`s life. A baby needs only to be regularly monitored by the pediatrician to avoid any possible complications. If this condition did not resolve until child is 4 years old, a surgery is recommended. Adults who suffer from obesity and gastrointestinal diseases can also develop umbilical hernia over the course of their lifetime. Long-term weight-lifting, when a person regularly strains his/her abdominal muscles, can also result in development of umbilical hernia. Usually, this condition is not very painful and rarely causes any particular symptoms, although in some cases it can cause serious problems.  

This disease is much more common in females, whose abdominal wall is anatomically weaker than male`s.

Symptoms

• Bulge near navel
• Swelling
• Pain in the navel
• Protrusion
• Discomfort during movement or lifting some objects

Diagnosis

• During the general examination, doctor will determine if a person has umbilical hernia. Examination is usually enough for diagnosis. A patient may be asked to lie and stand in several positions to determine if hernia causes pain or discomfort. A baby is positioned by a pediatrician on the table which allows to determine the size of the hernia.
• An X-ray and ultrasound are usually used if there is suspicion of any other complications. It is also used to rule out other causes of pain in the navel and area around it. 

Treatment

• Anterior abdominal wall laparoscopic autoplasty is a minimally invasive surgery, which uses laparoscopy to push the protrusion back in place and strengthen the abdominal valve. The incision is performed at the base of belly button, which enables the surgeon to get access to the hernia and push it back. This surgery usually lasts approximately half an hour and rarely imposes any complications.  

Authors: Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko