Umbilical hernia (umbilical hernia)

An umbilical hernia is a failure of the abdominal wall to close in the area of the navel and the umbilical cord ring. Normally, the umbilical cord ring scars after birth. However, if this opening in the abdominal wall only closes slowly, a gap remains.

An umbilical hernia is characterised by a small bulge in the navel area, which is particularly noticeable when pushing (bowel movement), sneezing or crying. The bulge, which can become as large as a hen's egg, can be pushed back again. An umbilical hernia is not usually painful. In some affected children, this gap can only be felt. In some cases, however, a piece of peritoneum protrudes, sometimes also intestinal loops, so that the umbilical hernia is clearly visible. Around a fifth of all babies are affected. An umbilical hernia is usually harmless for the child. It usually disappears by itself within the first three years of life. In rare cases, there is a risk of the intestine becoming trapped. For this reason, an umbilical hernia should be surgically removed at preschool age at the latest, as one in four untreated umbilical hernias can become trapped in the course of a child's life. Even today, the very rare incarceration of an umbilical hernia with intestinal involvement still represents a threatening situation.

An umbilical hernia can usually be recognised from the outside or palpated during a clinical examination. This involves feeling the gap in the abdominal wall.

The operation is usually performed on an outpatient basis, i.e. without an overnight stay in hospital.

The prognosis after surgery is very good. Complications such as inflammation of the wound or a new gap in the abdominal wall occur very rarely (< 1%).