Navel is the small depression in the abdominal wall. Umbilical hernia is the cause for big navel. Navel does not play any particular function in body. It is just a mark or remnant of umbilical cord that is cut during birth. Umbilical cord act as a connection between mother a baby, when baby is in the uterus of mothers body.
What is umbilical hernia?
Umbilical cord is thin pipe like structure that is attached to the placenta in mothers body. Placenta is the tissue present in pregnant women that act as source for nourishment for the growing fetus in her body. Placenta also carry mothers blood along with nutrients to the fetus. Umbilical cord is connected with developing embryo and placenta that provides life sustaining nourishment to the baby.
Umbilical cord has arteries and vein. In fetus umbilical cord arises from abdominal wall depressions. There is one umbilical vein that carry nutrients and oxygenated blood to developing embryo and two arteries that carry deoxygenated blood, waste and unwanted material from fetus body to mothers placenta for purification. This umbilical cord is long about 1.8 -2 feet. This cord is cut down after delivery of the baby from mothers body. After the cut, dried and unwanted part of umbilical cord falls off leaving behind circular depression in the abdomen called navel.
Umbilical hernia is not a serious condition. This condition can be treated. It is common and often do not have any harm. This condition is commonly seen in children and peoples with older age. In this condition there is circular, fluffy or bulgy swelling near navel. This condition is caused with excess of load is being suffered by the abdominal muscles. Intestine bulges and protrudes through the abdominal wall inside the navel or also called belly button.in children umbilical hernia can automatically get recovered with due course of time, but in some cases if does not go away on its own then doctors recommend surgery for the same. Umbilical hernia is usually painless.
Umbilical hernia usually gets close after 2 years from birth by its own. Sometimes it may take 3 or 4 years to close. It is easily visible in children because they cry and shoe discomfort in the abdomen. But if this condition persist till adulthood, then in this situation mostly in adulthood operation is recommended by medical practitioners.
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Symptoms of umbilical hernia
In new born children symptoms can be identified if baby cries a lot, vomit, show swelling or some sort of discoloration near navel.
In adults umbilical hernia can be felt, adults can feel discomfort in abdominal area. Sometimes their can also be intense pain in abdominal muscles.
In older peoples, belly size starts increasing and becomes circular in shape. Navel becomes big in size and sometimes pain around navel.
Considering the emergency condition of patient, doctor should recommend suitable treatment to the patients.
Umbilical hernia surgery
It is done by giving single incision near hernia and the bully tissue that was protruding out is pushed backed into the abdominal wall. Abdominal wall is then covered with mesh partially or completely according to the condition of abdominal wall incision. This synthetic mesh provides support to the abdominal muscles to recover early. Depending on the diet and health condition of patient it takes about 3-4 weeks for the patient to recover.
There is also a alternative way to treat this condition that is through laparoscopic way, in this method a thin tube is inserted in hernia, this tube has camera placed on it. It particularly act on the targeted area push inside the protruding abdominal muscle inside and quickly heels the incisions and wound that is caused during surgery. This technique is commonly used and heeling time of this technique is quick and post -operative pain is also less.
Surgery is recommended to adults only. If any serious conditions arise then only practiced in children. Lifting heavy loads after surgery is strictly avoided after surgery.
How is umbilical hernia diagnosed?
Umbilical hernia can be diagnosed by physical examination, like touch, appearance, size, color of the navel. In some complications it can be diagnosed by CT Scans or ultrasound technique.
What happens when umbilical hernia is not treated?
In infants, umbilical hernia recovers over period of time automatically, but in adults it is very necessary to treat umbilical hernia, if not treated it may cause complications in intestine, blood supply in intestine gets trapped and it requires immediate surgery.
Is umbilical hernia surgery safe?
Yes, umbilical hernia surgery is considered safe. This surgery is very common as many peoples all over the world has this medical condition. Like all other surgeries, this surgery also has minor issues like bleeding, swelling in operated area, infections.
What are symptoms of umbilical hernia?
In infants symptoms are small bulgy swelling near the navel, change in color of navel, crying, coughing, redness near navel. In adults, symptoms may vary or remain same but adults can feel discomfort in the abdominal cavity indicating umbilical hernia.