The umbilical cord is the channel that provides blood exchange by creating a connection between the mother and the baby. This cord opens out with the help of a small space located between the muscles of the baby's inner abdominal wall. With the birth of the baby, the umbilical cord is cut at birth, and after a while it dries up and falls off on its own. The space between the abdominal muscles that allows the umbilical cord to protrude is closed in most cases after a certain period of time after birth. With the delay of this closure, a condition called umbilical hernia occurs when the intestines or fat tissues in the abdominal cavity protrude through the cavity. The closure of the umbilical cord opening in infants is usually completed by the age of two, and it may rarely be delayed until the age of 4-5 years. For this reason, umbilical hernia is much more common in babies. Surgical operations can be applied for the treatment of umbilical hernias that have not closed until the age of 4-5 or that occur in adulthood.
What is an Umbilical Hernia?
Umbilical hernia is a type of or umbilical hernia seen around the umbilicus in medicine. Also felt swelling. An umbilical hernia occurs when the abdominal layers around the cavity where the umbilical cord opens out of the body are not completely closed or if fat tissue, intestines or some fluid protrudes outward from the small opening around the navel.
This condition can also be called umbilical hernia or umbilical hernia. Umbilical hernia, which is very common among babies, is mostly a temporary condition, affecting approximately 20% of every baby. However, umbilical hernia can occur not only in infancy, but also in adulthood due to various reasons. The swelling caused by the umbilical hernia around the belly button may not always be visible.
In babies and children, a hernia becomes visible during deep breathing, coughing, crying, straining or doing activities that force the abdominal muscles. The incidence of umbilical hernia in premature babies is higher than in term babies.
Umbilical Hernia Symptoms
Adults The most common symptom of umbilical hernia or umbilical hernia, which is more common in infants, is swelling in the navel when the baby cries, strains, coughs or sneezes. The swelling in question can be seen as the protrusion of the belly button. In infants, this condition does not usually cause any pain or discomfort, and often disappears as a result of the fusion of the abdominal muscles until the age of two.
In adults, umbilical hernia progresses a little differently in terms of symptoms and appearance. Intestines, fat tissues, intra-abdominal structure and fluids pushed outward from the opening in the navel may cause pain in the patient. Due to this pain and discomfort, called umbilical hernia pain, people may experience difficulties in walking, running, bending over or performing daily activities. In adults, the swelling in the navel is usually permanent and can be easily noticed by an outsider.
Especially large hernias can be seen very clearly from the outside and can be felt by the patient. However, in small-sized hernias, if there is enough space in the belly button, there may not be any visible swelling from the outside. These hernias can be noticed during stretching, contraction, coughing or movement, just like in babies. Another risk in small hernias is the suffocation of the intestine by entering through the small hole. Umbilical hernias, which cause severe pain and lead to complications that can progress to death if not intervened, should be treated with surgical methods in adulthood.
What Causes Umbilical Hernia?
Umbilical hernia is more common in babies, It is considered normal because they are born with an opening in the abdominal cavity at birth. However, some of the reasons that increase the incidence of umbilical hernia can be listed as follows:
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight
- Incomplete union of the umbilical cord space between the abdominal muscles
- Constant pressure on the abdominal region
- Heavy load getting rid of
- Doing heavy sports
- Constantly bending over and getting up
- Weak abdominal muscles
- Being overweight and gaining and losing weight quickly
- Previously undergoing abdominal surgery
- Many pregnancies and multiple pregnancies
- Fluid in the abdomen
- Causes chronic constipation or constipation Existence of diseases with diseases
- Frequent and severe coughing problem
Which department to go to for umbilical hernia?
Swelling problem in or around the navel General surgery polyclinics are the medical units that people with disabilities should apply. For hernia problems in babies and children, it should be followed and treated by pediatric surgeons. Since problems such as pain and swelling in the abdomen can be associated with many different diseases, it is beneficial for people who do not know whether their problem is an umbilical hernia or not, to apply to the internal medicine department first.
Patients who are diagnosed with an umbilical hernia after the studies to be made here are referred to general surgery clinics for treatment after this stage, and treatment planning is made by general surgery specialists.
How to Diagnose Umbilical Hernia?
In babies, the presence of umbilical hernia can be seen during the current movements and the size and structure of the hernia can be examined. If a hernia is detected during the examination, another issue that the physician looks at is whether the umbilical hernia can be pushed into the abdominal cavity. If the hernia cannot be pushed into the abdominal cavity, there may be an organ or tissue compression into the cavity, which is a very dangerous situation.
If umbilical hernia is not treated in adults, the probability of compression is very high. Urgent surgical intervention should be applied, as serious complications may develop due to the obstruction of blood circulation in entangled hernias. This condition, also called strangulated umbilical hernia, can bring different complications such as fever, severe pain, nausea and vomiting.
In addition to the physical examination, the patient's medical history should be taken in detail, and information should be obtained on issues such as current diseases and drugs used. Then, such as ultrasound, x-ray or tomography After the condition of the hernia is determined in detail with imaging techniques, the treatment plan is determined.
How to Treat Umbilical Hernia?
Physical examination is sufficient for the preliminary diagnosis of umbilical hernia for both infants and adults. Patients who apply to health institutions are usually asked to lie on a stretcher. Then, for adults, the navel area is palpated and the patient may be asked to make certain movements, breathe deeply or cough.
Since it is possible to close the abdominal muscles in babies up to 4 years of age, surgical treatment is generally not used for umbilical hernia unless it causes any complications. In such cases, the condition of the hernia can be monitored at regular intervals and it can be expected to heal on its own until the age of 4 years. Surgical operation is usually recommended for umbilical hernias that are still not healed by the age of 4 or are stuck or overgrown even though it is in the earlier period.
The situation is slightly different in adults, as the damage of umbilical hernia can be much more. Because there is no possibility of spontaneous recovery for adult individuals, and the possibility of developing complications due to physical activities is much higher. For this reason, surgical intervention is usually planned from the first moment the hernia is diagnosed. The most commonly used method in treatment is the patch technique.
This method provides the closure of the space between the abdominal muscles where the hernia protrudes. The possibility of recurrence of the umbilical hernia treated with this method is very low. For the patch technique, which is a very safe treatment method, specially produced synthetic materials are generally used. Umbilical hernia surgery is a short-term operation performed under general anesthesia. At the beginning of the operation, after the anesthesia is applied, a small incision is made a few centimeters below the belly button. Then, the intra-abdominal tissues forming the hernia sac are pushed into the abdominal cavity. The muscles and tissues around the belly button are repaired and combined.
In the operations performed with the patch technique, a synthetic patch is applied to the space inside the abdominal muscles at this stage. Patches are made using the materials. After the procedure is completed, the incision is sutured and the surgery is terminated. These procedures can be performed by open operation or laparoscopy technique. Which method will be preferred varies depending on the patient's condition, the size of the hernia and the compression condition. Laparoscopy technique is generally preferred in appropriate patients in terms of reducing the risk of complications and shortening the recovery period. Patients who have undergone surgery should avoid doing heavy work for about a month, do not exercise, and should not get up too much. It's good for you to pass. If you are diagnosed with an umbilical hernia, you can start the treatment process as soon as possible and prevent the hernia from compressing and causing serious complications. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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