An umbilical hernia often looks worse than it is, and if you or your little one develops the condition, it’s normal to feel anxious about the best course of action. Our specialists at Surgical Associates of North Texas in McKinney are happy to share some information about umbilical hernias.
If you’d prefer to meet with Scott A. deVilleneuve, MD, in person to determine your next steps, we help you find an appointment time that works for you.
An umbilical hernia develops when a portion of your intestines bulges through a small opening in your abdominal muscles near your navel. Most common in infants, umbilical hernias can also develop in children or adults.
Umbilical hernias create a visible bulge in the skin around or within your navel. In babies, this bulge is often only visible when the child is crying. In children or adults, the hernia is often only visible when you engage in strenuous activity, like lifting heavy objects.
In babies, a number of things could lead to an umbilical hernia, including:
Here are some of the causes of umbilical hernias in adults:
Women have a higher risk of umbilical hernias than men do, but anyone can develop this condition.
Very often, an umbilical hernia is not a serious health issue. In babies and small children, the condition often resolves itself by the age of 5. Dr. deVilleneuve may be able to manually move the displaced tissue back into the proper position.
If the hernia remains after your child turns 5, you need to have your pediatrician assess the condition. As long as you are able to reduce the hernia (ie push the intestines back into the abdomen) then treatment can be obtained electively. If a portion of the small intestine becomes stuck in the hernia, however, then the blood supply to the intestines is cut off and surgical intervention will be needed emergently.
Adults who develop an umbilical hernia often require treatment for the same reasons that children do. In addition to a physical examination, imaging might be necessary to determine if the hernia is causing problems within your body.
Many adults find that their umbilical hernia worsens over time, eventually requiring surgery to return the intestine tissue to its proper position.
If you or your child needs surgery to correct an umbilical hernia, it might ease your mind to know that these procedures are relatively simple.
In children, the hernia is usually repaired using an ‘open’ approach in which a small incision is made just below the hernia, allowing Dr. deVilleneuve the access he needs to move the intestine back into place and stitch the abdominal tissue closed to prevent additional displacement.
In adults, the repairs are done using a ‘minimally invasive’ or laparoscopic technique. In this scenario two small incisions are made on the side of the abdomen through which a small camera, or laparoscope, is inserted so that the hernia and contents may be visualized. Small instruments are then used to return the hernia contents to their appropriate location, after which the defect is repaired using a small, flexible piece of mesh.
These procedures are done on an outpatient basis, so you will be able to return home the same day. You’ll need to avoid placing strain on your abdominal muscles as the site heals, but once your recovery is complete, there’s no need to alter your normal routines.
If you still have questions about umbilical hernias and the treatment options, we’re happy to sit down with you and discuss your specific needs in greater detail. Reach out to our McKinney, Texas, office by phone, or give our easy online booking option a try.
