Umbilical Hernia

What is umbilical hernia?

An umbilical hernia is a condition in which swelling is seen around belly button also known as a navel umbilicus, owing to an intestine or tissues bulge through the weaker section of the belly button.

Babies are more prone to an umbilical hernia but adults too face this condition. Umbilical hernia in an adult is more painful as compared to the baby.

Umbilical hernia can be of two types:

• Reducible hernia: This type of hernia reduce in size when a person is lying down & can be pushed back into the opening.
• Irreducible or incarcerated hernia: Unlike reducible hernia, irreducible or incarcerated hernia cant be pushed back as intestine tissue fills the hernia sac.

Umbilical hernia treated with open hernia repair, laparoscopy hernia & 3D stichless hernia surgery.

What are the symptoms of umbilical hernia in adults?

Umbilical hernia symptoms in adults are as listed below

• Lump near the navel area
• Pain or pressure in the navel area is felt if the hernia is large
• Lump discoloration is observed near the navel.
• Severe abdominal discomfort or constant vomiting is a hint that hernia is strangulated. Strangulated hernia means intestine is trapped in the hernia, leading to cut down of blood supply to the intestine. Such umbilical hernia condition in an adult is dangerous and immediate surgery is required.

What are umbilical hernia causes in adults?

Causes of umbilical hernia in adults are:

• Being obese and overweight causes strain on an abdominal muscle.
• Weak muscles around the belly button. People with 60+ age group gets hernia cause of weakened muscles.
• Genetics. An individual having a family history of an umbilical hernia is more prone to this condition.
• Multiple pregnancies
• Abdominal cavity with excess fluid
• Abdomen surgery
• Heavy and continuous coughing.

What is umbilical hernia surgery/repair?

Umbilical hernia surgery or repair depending on the lump size, location & if the umbilical hernia operation is the first time or recurrence treatment, can be done by open hernia repair or laparoscopy hernia repair.

Open hernia repair

This surgery compromise of making an incision near the hernia area & pushing back bulging tissue back into the abdomen. This procedure use sutures or mesh to closed muscle. 

Laparoscopy hernia repair

Surgery is initiated with making a small puncture in the abdomen. A hollow tube is passed into the opening. This hollow tube contains surgical tools and a camera with light. Carbon dioxide is used to inflate the stomach, making it easier to view hernia. Mesh may be fixed with stapling muscles around hernia or by sutures. The open incision is then closed with sutures, clips or by using glue.

3D stichless hernia surgery

3-D Hernia Surgery is a Modern hernia surgery which involves repair through selection of uniquely engineered 3-D Implant. (More details are listed on 3D stichless hernia surgery)

Risks involved in undergoing umbilical hernia repair/surgery

• Recurrence: There are some chances of recurrence of umbilical hernia post-treatment. Obesity and smoking increase the chances of recurrence. Recurrence of hernia is more common in old age people.
• Seroma: This is the condition in which seroma i.e. yellow or clear fluid gets collected on the operated hernia site. A sterile needle is used to remove seroma.
• Hematoma: Blood gets collected on the wound site or scrotum. This condition mostly gets resolved on its own or can be treated with medication.
  Wound Infection