Overview:
- swelling in the navel area
- it increases when coughing or doing intense muscle exercise
- Umbilical hernia is a common disease
Etiology:
- Protrusion of abdominal contents (peritoneal membrane, abdominal fat, intestine) through a weakness in the abdominal wall muscles in the navel
- defect usually is the site of passage of the umbilical cord through the muscles of abdominal wall in fetal life
Symptoms:
- swelling in navel increases when standing up or coughing
- umbilical discomfort
- An incarcerated inguinal hernia happens when tissue becomes stuck in the groin and isn’t reducible.
This means it can’t be pushed back into place.
- Strangulated inguinal hernias are a more serious medical condition.
This is when an intestine in an incarcerated hernia has its blood flow cut off
Symptoms of strangulated hernia:
- severe pain
- fever
- rough, swollen, reddish bulging
- nausea or vomiting
- inability to defecate or pass gases
(Visit emergency department immediately when these symptoms appear)
Causes:
Risk factors of umbilical hernia are:
- Obesity
- Age: leading to muscle weakness
- Pregnancy
- ascites
- peritoneal dialysis
- Stressful physical activity
Diagnosis:
- Careful clinical examination
- Ultrasound abdomen to confirm the diagnosis
- CT abdomen in rare cases
Treatment:
Treatment of umbilical hernia is surgical
- Open surgery with minor hernia mesh
- Laparoscopic surgery with mesh for oversize hernia
