Umbilical Hernia Surgery

An umbilical hernia is a condition in which, owing to muscle weakness in the region of the navel, a type of opening is formed in the abdominal wall. Certain organs from the abdominal cavity, or some portion of those organs, leak out of the abdominal cavity through that opening, moving into a type of pocket in the front of the abdomen – a new space in which they are not supposed to be.

The presence of the hernia (i.e. the opening in the abdominal wall) is not dangerous in its own right, as it is only a ‘gap’ formed between certain muscle groups. However, if the umbilical hernia becomes larger and if it is untreated for a long time, ‘leakage’ into the new space could be significant, and cause significant swelling and even pain.

The greatest danger in the formation of an umbilical hernia is the entrapment of one of the abdominal organs and obstruction of blood flow to it, due to the pressure exerted on it by abdominal muscles, even to the extent of the development of necrosis. The bulging of a part of the small bowel into that opening is considered to be very serious, and due to the possibility of necrosis, it is considered to be life-threatening. Such a situation necessitates rapid and immediate treatment. The only procedure that will help in such a case – and that which will be chosen in any instance in which repair of an umbilical hernia is decided upon – is umbilical hernia surgery.

General information about umbilical hernia

Umbilical hernia surgery will be performed urgently, as mentioned above, where the danger to life is anticipated due to the entrapment of an organ and obstruction of its blood supply. In practice, even if there is only a concern that such a condition could develop, an operation will be performed promptly in order to repair the hernia and save the trapped organ from necrosis.

The operation will also be performed in instances where the hernia is very large – with the objective of preventing future problems. For that very reason, the operation will also be performed when the bulging into the new space is just beginning. Incidentally, if the hernia is small or if surgery cannot be performed (in very elderly persons, for example), a special abdominal belt can be used, which may be of some help.

It should be noted that umbilical hernia is a common occurrence in babies and children. It is caused because the ring that surrounds the umbilical cord before it is cut does not close afterward – causing the formation of the opening in the abdominal wall. In many instances, this opening will close by itself by the age of around five, and only if this does not occur naturally by this age (or slightly later) will an operation be decided upon.

Preparation for the operation

Hernia surgery is performed under general anesthesia., so you or your child will have to prepare accordingly for it (this preparation consisting mainly of a 6-8 hour fast, as directed by the anesthesiologist). For persons with various background illnesses, preliminary tests will be performed prior to the operation.

The course of the umbilical hernia surgery

If it is decided that a surgical procedure is the required step, a date for the operation will be set up with you. With the exception of the serious cases mentioned above, there is nothing urgent about performing umbilical hernia surgery, but it is recommended to not wait too long so that the condition doesn’t get more serious (an umbilical hernia can rapidly turn into an incarcerated hernia and be considered to be life-threatening).

The operation is performed by one of two methods: the open approach, which involves a wide incision in the region of the navel, and the minimally invasive approach, during which three tiny incisions are made around the navel. In both methods, the organs that have leaked out will be returned to their natural location, and the opening will be closed off using a special mesh. This mesh will, in fact, prevent abdominal organs from bulging out again, and will also allow the weak spot in the abdominal wall to strengthen.

In cases in which an incarcerated hernia developed causing necrosis of some organ, alongside repair of the hernia, removal of the necrotic part will also be required. If it is the small bowel that is involved, the physician will need to perform a careful and precise excision, at the end of which he will join together the two healthy ends of the bowel.

Regular hernia surgery, in which no internal organs have developed necrosis, takes up to 40 minutes. If the operation is performed by the minimally invasive method, you will be discharged to your home the next day, and if it is performed by the open approach, you may be asked to remain in the hospital for some additional time. It is very advisable to rest in the first few days after the operation, and of course not to exert yourself or lift heavy weights, but on the other hand, to make sure that you move and walk cautiously, in order to evoke the body’s recovery. During the first week after the operation, it is preferable not to drive a car.

side effects

Side effects of umbilical hernia surgery are few and quite rare. Nausea, vomiting, sore throat and headache could occur due to the general anesthesia – these are effects that pass after a few days. Infection is also possible, but only in rare instances. The most serious side effect is the formation of a new hernia, which occurs in very few instances, and necessitates further umbilical hernia surgery.