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The loyalty program applies to surgical interventions in the inpatient department, making treatment even more affordable.
An umbilical hernia may cause almost no discomfort for a long time, but over time the bulge may increase, and discomfort or pain may appear during physical exertion, coughing, or abdominal straining. In adulthood, such a defect does not disappear on its own, so it is important to assess its size and characteristics and determine further management.
At the Oxford Medical medical center, treatment of an umbilical hernia is performed by experienced surgeons in a high-tech surgical inpatient department. After consultation and examination, the doctor determines whether surgery is necessary and which method of intervention will be appropriate in the specific case. You can schedule a consultation at a convenient time by phone or through the online appointment form.
An umbilical hernia is a protrusion of fatty tissue, the omentum, or part of the intestine through a weakened area or defect of the abdominal wall in the region of the umbilical ring. An umbilical hernia may be small and appear only during coughing or abdominal straining, or it may remain constantly visible.
According to NHS, in adults, umbilical hernias can be small in size — about 1 cm, medium — from 1 to 4 cm, and large — more than 4 cm. The size of the defect is taken into account when choosing the treatment strategy, but the doctor also assesses the presence of pain, the reducibility of the hernia, its contents, and the risk of complications.
An umbilical hernia in adults usually develops due to weakening of the tissues around the umbilical ring combined with increased intra-abdominal pressure. If this area of the abdominal wall cannot withstand the load, a hernial protrusion may gradually form.
Factors that increase the risk of hernia formation include:
Physical activity itself does not always cause a hernia. More often, it increases intra-abdominal pressure and creates additional strain on an already weakened area of the umbilical ring.
Doctors at Oxford Medical explain that an umbilical hernia in pregnant women may occur due to gradual stretching of the anterior abdominal wall and an increase in intra-abdominal pressure as the uterus enlarges. The risk is higher with repeated or multiple pregnancy, when the abdominal tissues are subjected to greater strain.
An umbilical hernia after childbirth may be related to the fact that after significant stretching of the tissues, the umbilical ring does not regain its original density. An additional factor may be diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles, which reduces the stability of the anterior abdominal wall.
The most characteristic signs of an umbilical hernia are a bulge in the navel area and pain or discomfort
that may intensify during coughing, straining, bending, or physical exertion. In cases of a small
defect, an umbilical hernia may not present with a bulge visible at rest; the abnormality
becomes apparent only during abdominal straining.
Other possible symptoms include:
a sensation of pressure or heaviness near the navel;
tenderness upon pressure;
gradual increase in protrusion;
a sensation of tissue tightness during movement or exertion.
An umbilical hernia in a man manifests in the same way as in a woman. No separate signs of umbilical hernia in men are distinguished — the nature of the symptoms depends primarily on the size of the defect, its contents, reducibility, and the presence of complications.
After a hernia is detected, it is not necessary to completely give up physical activity, but it is advisable to avoid actions that cause pain or significant tension of the anterior abdominal wall.
The main contraindications for an umbilical hernia primarily concern excessive loads and self-treatment. You should not:
Doctors at Oxford Medical recommend avoiding, before the consultation, specifically those loads after which the protrusion increases or pain appears. Complete avoidance of normal everyday activity without medical indications is usually not necessary.
In adults, a formed defect of the umbilical ring does not close on its own, and medications, exercises, massage, or wearing a bandage cannot eliminate it. The main treatment method is hernioplasty, during which the hernia defect is closed and the strength of the anterior abdominal wall is restored.
The intervention may be performed using an open or laparoscopic approach. In open hernioplasty, access to the hernia is obtained through an incision in the navel area. Laparoscopic surgery is performed through several small punctures, through which special surgical instruments and a small video camera are inserted.
The defect itself may be closed using the patient's own tissues or with the use of a mesh implant. The mesh additionally strengthens the weakened area of the abdominal wall and reduces the risk of recurrent hernia formation compared with suturing using only the patient's own tissues. The doctor chooses the method of hernioplasty taking into account the size of the defect, the condition of the tissues, and other clinical factors.
In adults, conservative methods do not eliminate the defect of the umbilical ring, so the main method of radical treatment is surgical intervention. A bandage may temporarily support the abdominal wall in certain situations, but it does not close the hernia and does not replace hernioplasty.
The need for planned surgery is determined by the surgeon after examination. The size and type of the hernia, the possibility of its reduction, the tendency to increase, the condition of the abdominal wall tissues, and the risk of complications are taken into account. In the case of a small asymptomatic defect, observation may be recommended in certain cases.
If the hernia becomes incarcerated, the blood supply to the tissues that have entered the hernia sac is impaired. In such a situation, urgent surgical treatment is required, since delay increases the risk of intestinal obstruction and tissue necrosis.
Before planned hernioplasty, the patient undergoes a consultation with a surgeon, the necessary tests, and examinations. A consultation with an anesthesiologist is also carried out before the operation; the anesthesiologist assesses the patient's health condition and selects the optimal type of anesthesia.
The operation is usually performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon returns the contents of the hernia sac to the abdominal cavity, closes the defect of the umbilical ring, and, if indicated, reinforces this area with a mesh implant. The extent of the intervention depends on the size and characteristics of the hernia.
After the operation, the patient remains in the inpatient department under the supervision of medical staff. As early as the first day, if the patient's condition allows, they can get up and gradually return to normal physical activity.
At Oxford Medical, after an uncomplicated intervention, the stay in the inpatient department is usually short. In many cases, the patient may be discharged the next day, but the final decision is made by the doctor, taking into account the extent of the operation and the course of the early postoperative period.
To understand why an umbilical hernia is dangerous, it is necessary to consider primarily the risk of incarceration of its contents. If tissues or part of the intestine become trapped in the hernia opening, the blood supply and bowel function may be impaired.
Possible complications include:
According to American College of Surgeons, when part of the intestine is incarcerated in the hernia sac, its blood supply may stop. This condition is an emergency and requires urgent surgical treatment.
Medical help should be sought as soon as possible if the following appear:
Such manifestations may indicate incarceration, intestinal obstruction, or impaired blood supply to the tissues. In this case, you should not try to reduce the hernia yourself or wait for the symptoms to pass — urgent medical care is required.
Recovery after hernioplasty depends on the extent of the operation, the method used to perform it, and the patient's general condition.
During the rehabilitation period, it is important to:
It is also important to monitor the regularity of bowel movements, since strong straining increases intra-abdominal pressure. If constipation occurs, the doctor may recommend adjusting the diet, drinking regimen, or prescribing appropriate medications.
It is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of developing an umbilical hernia, since its development may be influenced by the characteristics of connective tissue and the structure of the umbilical ring. At the same time, the likelihood of defect formation can be reduced by avoiding prolonged or sudden increases in intra-abdominal pressure.
For prevention, it is recommended to:
Doctors at Oxford Medical note: special attention should be paid to conditions in which the anterior abdominal wall is subjected to significant strain or stretching. These include, in particular, pregnancy and the postpartum period. After childbirth, it is advisable to return to physical activity gradually, and if there is a protrusion in the navel area or diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles, to undergo an examination first.
The cost of the operation depends on the category of complexity of the intervention. It is determined by the doctor after consultation and examination, taking into account the size of the hernia defect, the characteristics of its structure, the method of hernioplasty, and the need to install a mesh implant.
You can preliminarily review the prices for medical services here. Only a doctor can provide a more accurate estimate of the price, taking into account the diagnosis and other individual characteristics. To schedule a consultation with a surgeon at Oxford Medical, call our contact center or use the online appointment form on the website.
The information in the article is provided for informational purposes and is not an instruction for self-diagnosis or treatment. A doctor's consultation is necessary to establish a diagnosis and choose a treatment strategy.
The information in the article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a guide to self-diagnosis or treatment. A doctor's consultation is required to establish a diagnosis and choose a treatment strategy.
Sources:
In adults, a formed defect of the umbilical ring does not close with the help of medications, exercises, massage, or a bandage. In the case of a small, asymptomatic, and reducible hernia, the doctor may recommend observation, but this does not eliminate the defect itself. If the hernia causes symptoms, increases in size, or has an increased risk of complications, surgical treatment is considered.
The most typical sign is a bulge in the area of the navel, which may become more noticeable during coughing, straining, or physical activity. The diagnosis is usually established during an examination. If the defect is small, does not have a pronounced external bulge, or it is necessary to clarify its size and contents, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound or CT scan.
The pain is more often felt directly near the navel. It may be pulling, aching, or occur as a feeling of pressure during coughing, straining, bending, or physical activity. Sudden severe pain, especially together with an inability to reduce the bulge, nausea, or vomiting, requires an urgent examination.
Yes. Discomfort may be felt not only exactly at the navel but also in the adjacent area of the abdomen, especially during straining. However, abdominal pain has many other causes, so it should not be independently attributed to a hernia. Sharp or increasing pain with vomiting, inability to pass gas, or an irreducible bulge requires emergency medical care.
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Performing operations using minimally invasive laparoscopic methods
Application of the Fast Track Surgery protocol for rapid preoperative preparation and rehabilitation
Use of high-quality foreign-made endoprostheses
Availability of intensive care units (resuscitation rooms)
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