General Information About Umbilical Hernia
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the protrusion of the peritoneum and intestines just beneath the skin through a weak point in the abdominal wall muscles, creating a bulge around the navel.
In babies, it is caused by the umbilical cord passage from the womb not fully closing after birth. In adults, conditions that increase intra-abdominal pressure such as obesity, pregnancy, chronic coughing, or heavy lifting weaken the muscles and lead to herniation.
A soft swelling and localized pain that becomes more pronounced especially when coughing, straining, or standing up, and shrinks or disappears when lying flat on the back.
If the protruding piece of intestine gets stuck in the hernia opening and cannot return, its blood supply is cut off. The swelling becomes very hard and painful. Emergency surgical intervention is mandatory to prevent the necrosis (death) of the intestinal tissue.
It is easily detected through a physical examination by a general surgeon. The movement of the hernia sac is observed when the patient is asked to cough. Rarely, an Ultrasound or CT is requested to see the condition of the hernia contents.
In children, it can be expected to close on its own up until the age of 3-4. However, hernias that appear in adulthood do not resolve on their own, and surgery is the only treatment. During surgery, the hernia sac is pushed back inside, and the open area is repaired and reinforced with a synthetic mesh.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
