Umbilical Hernia

What is an umbilical hernia?

• A hernia (HER-nee-ah) happens when tissue or part of an organ bulges out of its normal place in the body. An umbilical (um-BIL-i-kal) hernia is when something from the abdomen (belly) slips out of place. This causes a lump or bulge in the area of the navel ("belly button"). The hernia may contain fluid, part of an organ (such as the intestine), or other tissue from the abdomen.
  
  
• Umbilical hernias usually happen because of a hole or a weak area in the muscles of the abdominal wall. You may have been born with the weak area, or the area may have become weak with age. The area may have been weakened because of an injury or surgery there. You may never know what caused your hernia.

Who is most likely to get an umbilical hernia?

Umbilical hernias can happen to people of any age. Umbilical hernias in adults happen more often in women than in men. You may be more likely to have a hernia if other family members have them. Other things that may increase your risk of having an umbilical hernia include:

• Being overweight.
  
  
• Having ascites (ah-SEYE-teez), which is fluid in the abdomen.
  
  
• Having a large tumor (growth) in your abdomen.
  
  
• Being a pregnant woman.
  
  
• Being a woman who has had multiple pregnancies.
  
  
• Having a very long labor when delivering your baby.

What are the signs and symptoms of an umbilical hernia?

• Signs and symptoms may be very different from person to person. The most common sign of an umbilical hernia is a bulge or swelling in the area of the navel. You may be able to see the lump, or you may feel it when you gently press on your navel. You may have pain or burning in your abdomen. The pain may get worse with coughing, sneezing, lifting, or standing for a long time. The skin over the hernia may be swollen, red, or even gray or blue. The lump may get bigger when you bend, cough, or strain to have a BM. Laying down sometimes decreases the size and the pain of the hernia.
  
  
• If your hernia is not treated, the following serious problems may happen:
  
  
  • Incarcerated hernia: An incarcerated (in-KAHR-ser-ay-ted) hernia is when the hernia cannot be pushed back into the abdomen by your caregiver. The tissue becomes stuck or trapped, which can cause serious problems. Umbilical hernias have a high risk of becoming incarcerated. If this happens, your intestines may become blocked. You may have very bad pain in your abdomen. You may also have nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) or vomiting (throwing up).
    
    
  • Strangulated hernia: A loop of intestine in the hernia may become pinched or strangulated. This means that the blood supply to that area of intestine is decreased or cut off. If this happens, you may feel very bad pain in your abdomen. Other signs may include nausea, vomiting, or a high body temperature (fever). You may have constipation (trouble having a BM) or blood in your BMs. If your intestine becomes blocked, you may not be able to pass gas or have a BM. If the hernia is not treated right away, that part of your intestine may die. This is called gangrene (GANG-green), and it can be life threatening.

How is an umbilical hernia diagnosed?

Your caregiver can usually find the hernia during an exam. Your caregiver may check to see if the hernia can be reduced (gently pushed back into the abdomen). Your may need tests such as x-rays of the abdomen or an ultrasound. These tests will help caregivers decide how to treat your hernia, and to check for other problems.

How is an umbilical hernia treated?

Most adults with umbilical hernias will need surgery to fix their hernias. Until surgery can be done, medicines such as acetaminophen (a-seet-a-MIN-oh-fen) or ibuprofen (eye-bu-PROH-fen) may help decrease discomfort from your hernia. Ask your caregiver which over-the-counter pain medicine is right for you. Always tell your caregiver if you have new or worsening pain in the area of your hernia. You may need surgery right away (emergency surgery) if a loop of intestine becomes trapped in the hernia.

For more information:

Contact the following to learn more about hernias and their treatment:

• National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
  2 Information Way
  Bethesda , MD 20892-3570
  Phone: 1- 800 - 8915389
  Web Address: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
  

• American College of Surgeons
  633 N. Saint Clair St.
  Chicago , IL 606113211
  Phone: 1- 312 - 2025000
  Phone: 1- 800 - 6214111
  Web Address: http://www.facs.org
  

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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