Umbilical Hernia - Everything You Should Know About

What is Umbilical Hernia?

An umbilical hernia is a type of hernia that forms in the inner lining of the belly and pushes through the hole near the belly button. It often doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort in the earlier stage. But it doesn’t go away on its own as well. Thus, umbilical hernia repair is performed surgically. The purpose of the surgery is to push the protruding organ back in its original place and repair the hole safely with or without the help of reinforcement.

Umbilical hernia repair can be performed as an emergency or elective procedure. The doctor diagnoses the condition of the patient and analyzes the level of pain caused by the hernia and other symptoms. If the hernia is negatively affecting the life of the patient, then surgical repair is recommended.

Emergency umbilical hernia repair is usually performed on the patients who develop complications, such as strangulation or incarceration.

How does umbilical hernia form?

Umbilical hernia typically forms when the navel is damaged and the muscle wall loses its ability to keep the internal organs in place. It results in bulging around the belly button that can be pushed back inside. However, the bulge grows gradually and may become more noticeable whenever the intraabdominal pressure increases.

Most children and women get this type of hernia. Children get this hernia because the umbilical cord is recently cut and the muscles are weak. Due to this, when the child coughs or strains excessively, the organ pushes through the belly button and leads to an umbilical hernia. Similarly, women are more prone to getting umbilical hernias because of pregnancies, especially multiple pregnancies.

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Umbilical Hernia Causes

• Congenital weakness
• Excessive pressure on the abdominal wall
• An open channel of the umbilical cord
• Abdominal surgeries
• Persistent cough

Umbilical Hernia Symptoms

• Swelling or bulge near the navel
• Severe abdominal pain
• Tenderness around the bulge
• Vomiting or nausea
• Discolored skin around the bulge

Umbilical Hernia Diagnosis

Self-Diagnosis

As umbilical hernias are usually painless, the condition may get undiagnosed for a long time. In children, the bulge around the navel may become visible when the child coughs or cries.

In adults, an umbilical hernia causes discomfort during activities that put pressure on the abdomen region. The bulge can be seen clearly. However, an expert would be able to tell you accurately about the type of hernia.

Diagnosis By Doctor

An expert doctor can identify an umbilical hernia through a physical examination. He/she will ask you to cough while sitting, standing, and lying down to check the bulge.

The doctor will also ask for your medical history to narrow down the exact cause of umbilical hernia.

Tests

The following tests will be recommended to identify the severity of the umbilical hernia and to determine the most appropriate path to perform the surgery.

• Abdominal ultrasound is performed for a complete assessment of the condition and its severity.
• CT scan is performed to create a clear image of the internal organs and to distinguish the bulging tissues and abdominal tissues.
• MRI scan is used to narrow down the safest path for surgical repair.

Based on the results of these imaging tests, the doctor will determine which technique is safer and more effective for umbilical hernia treatment.

Umbilical Hernia Severity

The severity of umbilical hernia is determined on the basis of problems it has been causing in the regular life of the individual. Normally, the progression of umbilical hernia can be prevented by taking preventive measures. However, if the following symptoms appear, it means that the condition has become severe-

• Occasional pain that often becomes unbearable
• Hernia cannot be pushed back inside
• Nausea and vomiting
• No bowel movements for more than 2 days

These symptoms are an indication that you should see a hernia specialist right away.

Prevention of Umbilical Hernia

Normally, an umbilical hernia develops due to congenital weakness in the muscle wall. In such scenarios, the hernia cannot be prevented. However, if there is no weakness in the abdominal muscle wall, the development of umbilical hernia can be prevented-

• Exercise on a regular basis to strengthen the abdominal muscles. Also, make sure that you wear abdominal belts to perform weight training exercises.
• Lifestyle and dietary changes are also required to reduce the chances of becoming obese. Obesity stretches the muscle wall and makes it thin which in turn increases the risk of hernias.
• In most cases, hernia arises due to wrong lifting techniques. Therefore, it is important that you lift heavy objects using your legs instead of your back.
• Treat chronic cough or bronchitis timely. Coughing strains the muscles excessively due to which the risk of getting umbilical hernia and other types of hernia increases.
• Avoid smoking completely as it makes the muscles weak and compromises the immune system as well. Due to this, the individual becomes more prone to getting cough and cold more often which will lead to hernia development.
• Chronic constipation is another major contributing factor to the development of an umbilical hernia. Therefore, it is important that you make healthy changes in your dietary habits and use laxatives or stool softeners to avoid straining.

When to consult an umbilical hernia doctor ?

It is advisable that you consult a hernia doctor as soon as you notice a bulge in or around the abdomen. Through timely treatment, you may be able to prevent the umbilical hernia from progressing. However, in many cases, the umbilical hernia goes undiagnosed for a long time if it doesn’t cause any pain. If the following symptoms appear, you should seek help from a hernia specialist right away-

• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Skin discoloration
• No bowel movement

Questions to ask your Laparoscopic doctor for Umbilical hernia Treatment

• How many years of experience do you have in treating umbilical hernia?
• How many cases have you handled and what is your success rate?
• What is the best treatment method for an umbilical hernia?
• How will you mitigate the risks and complications associated with the procedure?
• Is it important to use hernia mesh for the repair?
• Which technique will be used for hernia repair- open or laparoscopic?
• Do I have to stay in the hospital? If so, how long?
• Is the surgery painful?
• How long will it take to recover completely after hernia surgery?
• What are the chances of hernia recurrence after surgical repair?
• Is there any alternative to hernia surgery?

Umbilical Hernia Treatment Options & Cost

Non-Surgical

It is not possible to treat umbilical hernia or any other type of hernia without surgery. Lifestyle changes, medications, and support like truss can help to address the pain, swelling, and other symptoms. However, these methods won’t be effective in treating the root cause of the problem.

Types of Umbilical Hernia Surgery

Surgery is the definitive treatment for an umbilical hernia. Through surgery, the doctor pushes the protruding organ back to its original position and repair the hole in the muscle wall. The repair can be done through-

• Herniorrhaphy (Tissue Repair)

This type of hernia repair is performed when the hole in the muscle wall can be closed by stitching the sides of the muscle opening. Thus, there is no need for additional support, and the muscle tissues will heal over time, thereby preventing the internal organs from pushing through.

• Hernioplasty (Mesh Repair)

Also known as mesh repair surgery, this type of hernia repair surgery involves using a synthetic or artificial mesh. The mesh pieces are precisely cut into the shape of the hole and placed above and beneath the muscle tissues to act as reinforcements. The corners of the mesh are stitched with the muscles to avoid displacement. The mesh prevents the organ from pushing through the muscle wall.

Both procedures are safe and effective in treating hernias and can be performed using open or laparoscopic techniques.

Umbilical Hernia Preparation

To prepare for umbilical hernia surgery, follow the steps below-

• Avoid eating or drinking anything at least 6-8 hours before the surgery.
• Provide a list of medicine to the doctor so that he/she can make the necessary adjustments to prepare the body for surgery.
• The anesthetist will ask a series of questions to analyze which anesthesia will be appropriate to use during the procedure.
• The doctor will ask to stop taking aspirin, blood thinners, anti-inflammatory medicines, etc. for at least a week before the surgery as they increase the potential risk of bleeding.
• Get a full-body checkup to eliminate the risk of any underlying condition that can compromise the outcome or success rate of the surgical repair.
• Take a shower and wear loose and comfortable clothes before admitting to the hospital.
• Ask a friend or family member to stay with you.

What to expect during the Umbilical hernia Surgery?

Once everything is ready, you will be taken to the operation theater (OT) and anesthesia will be given to numb the surgical site. The type of anesthesia is chosen based on the technique decided for umbilical hernia repair, either open or laparoscopic. General anesthesia is used when laparoscopic hernia repair is being performed and local/regional anesthesia is used for open repair.

As soon as the anesthesia takes effect, the following steps are carried out-

• Incisions are made around the abdomen to access the internal organs. In open repair, there will be a large size incision. But in laparoscopic repair, small keyhole-sized incisions are made to insert the surgical tools.
• The herniated tissues or bulge portions are pushed back in the original location and the hole is closed with or without the help of mesh. Either the sides of the hole are stitched together or mesh is placed over the tissues for support.
• After the muscle repair is done, the incisions are closed with the help of stitches, surgical glue, or staples.

Shortly, you will be transferred to the observation room until the anesthesia wears off and then you’ll be moved back to the ward.

After the Umbilical hernia surgery

Immediately after the surgery, you will feel slightly disoriented. There will be numbness in the surgical site and IV fluids & pain medications will be given to you.

When hernia surgery is done electively without complications, the patient is generally discharged on the same day. However, if there are complications associated with the treatment, the doctor may suggest at least one day of hospitalization.

So, you will be discharged accordingly, and before that, the doctor will also create a recovery plan including diet, physical restrictions, etc.

Cost of Umbilical Hernia Repair Surgery

The overall cost of umbilical hernia repair surgery will range from Rs. 65,000 to Rs. 2,50,000 approximately. The exact cost will vary for each patient based on the factors below-

• The choice of hospital
• Doctor’s consultation and operating fee
• The city you live in
• Diagnostic tests
• Risks and complications
• The technique chosen for treatment (open or laparoscopic)
• Type of mesh used (if any)
• Hospital admission, bed, and discharge expense
• Pre and post-surgery medications
• Follow-up consultations

You can ask the doctor and he/she will provide you with an estimate of the entire treatment cost.

Insurance Coverage for Umbilical hernia Treatment

As umbilical hernia can cause life-threatening complications, its treatment comes under the category of critical illnesses. Thus, all insurance providers offer plans with ample coverage for the treatment of umbilical hernia. You can pay for the entire treatment by using the insurance policy.

It is advised that you talk to your health insurance providers to find out how much amount you can claim through your plan.

Umbilical hernia Recovery rate

The recovery after umbilical hernia surgery takes around 3-6 weeks. The actual period may be different for each patient based on the technique used for the repair and the patient’s healing abilities.

If the patient is healthy and open repair is done, the recovery will take around 4-6 weeks. In the same case, if laparoscopic repair is done, the recovery period will be around 3-4 weeks.

If the patient’s health is not optimal, then the recovery will be prolonged.