Umbilical hernia

Description:

Umbilical hernia arises in case of an exit of a part of intestines from an abdominal wall through defect in muscles of an abdominal wall. Umbilical hernia usually does not constitute serious health hazard of the patient. Umbilical hernia most often occur at children, but can arise also at  adults. At children's age umbilical hernia especially clearly is visible when the child cries. At the same time hernia increases and sticks out that gives the chance for a visual estimate. It is a classical symptom of umbilical hernia. Umbilical hernia which did not disappear aged up to 3 years and also those hernias which arose at adult age, perhaps, demand surgical intervention.

Reasons of umbilical hernia:

During pregnancy, the umbilical cord passes through a small opening in a belly muscle of the child. This muscular defect is usually closed right after the birth. If closing did not happen, muscles of a prelum abdominale do not combine completely in the average line of a stomach, this weakness in an abdominal wall can lead to umbilical hernia at the birth or in later stages of life. At adults increase in intra belly pressure can lead to umbilical hernia. The possible reasons at adults include obesity, repeated pregnancies, accumulation of liquid in an abdominal cavity (ascites), the previous abdominal operations. Umbilical hernia most often occur at children's age, especially at premature children and children with a low weight at the birth. Among children of the African race a little increased risk of emergence of umbilical hernia is observed. This pathology arises both at boys, and at girls in an identical ratio. For adults with an excess weight or having polycarpous pregnancy the risk of development of umbilical hernia can increase. This type of hernia, as a rule, occurs at women at the age of 50-60 years more often.

Smptoma of umbilical hernia:

Umbilical hernia represents a soft tumor or camber about a navel. Umbilical hernia at the child can be noticeable during cough or shout (crying). Camber can disappear when the child calms down, or at change of position of a body. Umbilical hernias at children are, as a rule, painless. Umbilical hernia which appear at adult age can cause discomfort in a stomach. At suspicion of umbilical hernia at the child it is necessary to address the pediatrician. At emergence of complications it is necessary to cause emergency medical service. Such complications against the background of umbilical hernia are: nausea, vomiting, sharp abdominal pain. The similar principles are applicable to adults.

Treatment of umbilical hernia:

In most cases umbilical hernia at children independently recovers up to 18 months. The doctor can even set umbilical hernia at this age by means of only one pressing. However do not try to repeat it independently.
As a rule, surgical treatment at children is carried out in the following cases:
- morbidity of hernia;
- the sizes of hernia it is more, than 1,5 cm in the diameter;
- umbilical hernia does not decrease in sizes after 6 months;
- umbilical hernia did not disappear by 3 years;
- there was an infringement of umbilical hernia.
Umbilical hernia at adults is, as a rule, carried out in a planned order to avoid possible complications - especially if umbilical hernia becomes more and more and there is a morbidity. During operation the small cut in the navel basis is made. Contents of a hernial bag are returned to an abdominal cavity, and the opening in an abdominal wall is taken in. At adults surgeons often use a grid to promote strengthening of an abdominal wall. A recurrence is improbable.