How Umbilical Hernias Affect Adults

Umbilical hernias are the second most common type of hernias after genital hernias. 2% of adults are affected by umbilical hernias. Notably, up to 20% of children are born with umbilical hernias, but most of them resolve on their own before reaching five years. Umbilical hernias occur primarily in women. Obesity and multiple pregnancies are the main predisposing factors. Umbilical hernias can cause considerable pain and require urgent medical attention. Luckily, you should get all the help they need at Elite Surgical Miami!

When should I worry about my umbilical hernia?
In critical conditions, you will experience severe pain around your belly button. Additionally, there will be discoloration and swelling around the belly button. Severe umbilical hernias can also cause abdominal obstruction, which can disrupt bowel movements. Therefore, if you have noticed significant changes in your bowel movements, then it might be time to visit a physician.

Umbilical hernias occur in three stages;

• Reducible: These types of hernias usually don’t need immediate intervention. Normally, the physician pushes the hernia back into the stomach cavity. This type of intervention is commonly used in infants.
• Incarcerated: An incarcerated hernia occurs when a part of the intestines get stuck in the abdominal muscles resulting in discomfort. Normally, these kinds of hernias require immediate intervention.
• Strangulated: In this stage, the protruded intestine is usually cut from blood circulation, resulting in tissue death. Immediate intervention is required to salvage the tissue and prevent infection.

What are the symptoms of umbilical hernia in adults?
Symptoms of umbilical hernia are the same in children and adults. An umbilical hernia is typically diagnosed by a bulge on or near the belly button that is sensitive to touch. However, the hernia is not always visible while in others, it can only be seen when they cough. Also, you will notice the bulge when you lift heavy things. Hernias are primarily painless in children; however, adults may experience pain, discomfort, or pressure in the stomach.

Here are symptoms to look for

• Nausea and consequent vomiting
• A bulge that is sensitive to touch
• The skin around the belly button changes color to either purple, red, or dark
• Discomfort or pain that won’t get worse
• Blood in stool

Do umbilical hernias cause pain in adults?
Umbilical hernias can cut off circulation from the protruding intestine, which causes pain. Regardless of the size of the hernia, the abdominal wall can tighten around the protruded intestine, causing mild to severe pain. You may feel pain when sneezing, coughing, and lifting heavy weights. Physicians advise patients to seek medical help when the hernia becomes painful.

Do umbilical hernias in adults always need surgery?
Not all adult umbilical hernias need surgical intervention, however, in 65% of the cases, surgery is required. Notably, most adult hernias worsen with time and may bring about complications. Surgery should be done as soon as possible to alleviate discomfort and prevent the condition from developing into something more serious. The best time to perform surgery is before the protruded organ is strangulated or incarcerated, causing considerable pain.

A hernia repair surgery is needed to treat umbilical hernia. Typically, an incision is made on the abdominal cavity to push the protruded organ back in place. Additionally, the surgeon seals the abdominal cavity with several stitches to prevent recurrence. To finish the procedure, the physician strengthens the tissue with a tissue barrier. The chances that an umbilical hernia will recur are low but still possible. In adults, the recurrence rate after the tissue is strengthened with a tissue barrier is less than 3%. In children, the recurrence rate after surgery is 2%. An abdominal hernia can reoccur if an adult is obese or they don’t properly manage their ascites (a condition where fluid collects in the abdominal muscles).

Laparoscopic or robotic hernia surgery
During this surgery, three incisions are made on one side of the belly. Next, the surgeons fill your belly with carbon dioxide gas, which expands it, creating a wide viewing area. A small flap is then created on the belly lining to locate the hernia. Typically, the organ will protrude outside the stomach cavity or the stomach muscles that hold organs in place. The surgeon locates the hernia, pushes it back into place, and secures it. The flap is sealed, and the carbon dioxide is sucked from the belly. Laparoscopic surgery is the best mode of treatment over traditional open repair. In addition to better cosmetic results, this procedure guarantees faster recovery so patients can resume everyday life sooner. Also, the procedure is less painful.

Possible complications after surgery
Hernia surgery can result in fluid buildup or seromas. Fluid buildup mostly occurs after treatment of large hernias. The fluid buildup may look similar to the hernia that was there before. Fortunately, the fluid buildup is not a cause of concern and should resolve on its own within 90 days. Additionally, it is normal to experience some bruising and sensitivity around the belly button area. Fortunately, internal bleeding is very uncommon in these cases. Post-surgery care is needed to prevent the occurrence of infections. An infection is typically characterized by abscess and wound dehiscence (wound falling apart). Luckily, an umbilical hernia surgery is ambulatory, meaning you will be discharged on the same day. However, you should not drive because of the residual effects of anesthesia. You may experience mild pain and soreness for about two days. Ice packs can come in handy when managing this pain.

Next steps
If you have an umbilical hernia, Elite Surgical Miami is here for you!

• Get patient-centered care from highly trained individuals
• Access advanced treatment options
• Minimally invasive repairs guarantee reduction of pain post-surgery
• Great post-surgery care