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Understanding the condition
An umbilical hernia is an opening in the abdominal wall at the navel. The bulge may contain fatty tissue, bowel or both. Lack of bowel obstruction does not mean that trapped tissue cannot become painful or lose its blood supply.
What the evaluation looks for
The examination considers the size of the opening, reducibility, tenderness and the overlying skin. Your other medical conditions influence the timing and method of repair.
How treatment is chosen
Some small, reducible hernias can be observed. Symptoms, enlargement or trapped contents may favor repair. The choice of sutures or mesh depends on the defect and the operative situation.
Questions worth asking
- What is inside the hernia?
- Would mesh improve the durability of my repair?
- What changes should prompt immediate reassessment?
When to seek help promptly
Increasing pain, redness or darkening of the skin, vomiting or a newly irreducible bulge needs urgent evaluation.