Umbilical hernia in children with bumps on the abdomen

Umbilical hernia in babies is usually harmless

01/29/2014

If babies are bumped around their umbels, parents usually do not have to worry. A so-called umbilical hernia is usually uncomplicated and often returns on its own. However, if the child has abdominal pain and a bluish navel area, action must be taken quickly. Then a bowel loop could be pinched.

Vaulting on the belly indicates umbilical hernia
In the womb, the unborn child is supplied with blood and all important nutrients via the umbilical cord. If it is severed after birth, only a small piece remains. After a short time, the dry remains fall off, only the navel remains. However, the small depression protrudes outwards in some children. Then doctors talk about an umbilical hernia, which, however, has nothing to do with a break in the true sense.

In an umbilical hernia, the abdominal wall is broken by abdominal contents, which causes the small bump. „This is generally uncomplicated in infancy and nothing dangerous, "explains Bernd Tillig, President of the German Society of Pediatric Surgery (DGKIC) in Berlin, told the news agency „dpa“. In the place of the navel, the umbilical cord leads into the body, so that there is a small gap in the abdominal wall. „When toddlers begin to sit up, their abdominal muscles are being trained, "explains Verena Ellerkamp, ​​specialist in pediatric surgery at the University Hospital Tübingen, to the news agency, which in most cases closes the gap.

Pediatrician Ulrich Fegeler of the Professional Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ) also confirms that an umbilical hernia in children is usually no cause for concern: „Navel fractures can be as big as a tomato and yet harmless.“ The bump sometimes grows very slowly or occurs suddenly. „Parents are not to blame for it, "says Tillig, and it is not possible to influence whether or not children have an umbilical hernia.

Sometimes an umbilical hernia has to be operated on
„The distinction between an inguinal hernia requiring surgery and an umbilical hernia is important, "Ellerkamp points out, but in some cases an umbilical hernia has to be operated on, so the pediatric surgeon can feel the edge of the gap Pain, the doctors can sometimes push the bulge with a slight pressure to the sample in the stomach.If the gap is relatively large, the umbilical hernia is all the less problematic, since then hardly pinch parts of the intestine or the cerebral fur in it.

„Tillig explains that if the child has stomach ache after romping around, "explains Tillig," Although pinching is rare, it does pose a risk. "Parents should be aware of this, says the doctor Although slight surgery may be necessary, it may be planned at rest, but severe pain and a bluish navel may require a hurry. „An entire bowel loop can be pinched, "explains Ulf Bühligen, senior physician for pediatric surgery at the University Hospital Leipzig, to the news agency, and in the worst case, the interrupted blood flow leads to the death of the trapped areas of the organ.

Surgery may also be required if the umbilical hernia does not recede on its own and persists in preschool age. „This is the same with every tenth child with an umbilical hernia. "Very rarely, the umbilical hernia is so large that the gap can not close by itself, and surgical intervention is necessary.

„During an operation, a small skin incision of about one centimeter at the navel is made and the gap is sewn over musically ", Bühligen reports." The procedure can usually be performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. „It takes about a week to heal the wound, "Tillig said, and if needed, the children are given painkillers, but usually no other medicines.The surgery has no significant risks other than the risk of infection from each procedure. „There is practically no pre-load for later, "explains Bühligen, leaving only a very small surgical scar, which sits very close to the navel and does not stand out. „There is nothing left behind ", calms Fegeler.

Umbilical hernia occurs in adults due to high pressure in the abdomen
Even in adulthood, an umbilical hernia may occur when the pressure in the abdomen, for example during pregnancy, during heavy lifting or overweight, increases significantly. In addition, a hereditary form of connective tissue weakness may favor an umbilical hernia.

If the umbilical hernia is accompanied by pain, it is usually removed surgically. If it is a trapped umbilical hernia, it must be operated on immediately in adults. The type and extent of the procedure depends on the size of the umbilical hernia. Thus, the abdominal wall is stabilized with a plastic net or band at a break greater than two centimeters, so that new umbilical hernias are prevented.

While in adults a so-called belly band can be used, but that is „In children with an umbilical hernia absolutely not advisable, "said Ellerkamp.Thus the umbilical hernia is permanently pressed into the abdomen and thus can quite a pinch something.