Misconceptions About Umbilical Hernia

Misconceptions About Umbilical Hernia
Misconceptions About Umbilical Hernia

Umbilical hernia is a very common abnormality of the belly button that occurs in most babies’ first years of life. Although parents become very concerned when they find out that their child has been diagnosed with umbilical hernia, there is virtually no reason to be worried about. Apart from being “in-esthetic”, umbilical hernia raises no major physiological issues. This type of hernia is a mild disorder that doesn’t interfere with the normal development of the child. Umbilical hernia is a post-natal abnormality of the belly button that occurs in more than 10 percent of all babies. This umbilical abnormality is commonly developed by girls and prematurely born infants and it is usually revealed in babies older than 6 months, rarely occurring prior to this age.

Umbilical hernia occurs when the umbilical ring fails to close properly, causing the belly button to swell. The swelling of the belly button induces babies a state of local discomfort and sometimes a small degree of soreness. In some cases, umbilical hernia can be accentuated by the babies’ movement and straining. The disorder doesn’t generate any other symptoms and it involves no risk of complication. Although umbilical hernia may sound and look serious, the disorder is in fact a very mild physiological affection.

Umbilical hernia can be easily revealed by a physical examination and the process of diagnosing the disorder doesn’t involve performing additional tests. Unlike other forms of hernia, which commonly require surgical intervention, umbilical hernia generally disappears on itself within the babies’ first years of life. Statistics indicate that more than 90 percent of umbilical hernias disappear by the age of 12 months without medical intervention. However, in some cases this type of hernia can persist for a few years, causing children further distress and discomfort. Rarely, umbilical hernia can even persist until kindergarten or primary school.

The treatment for umbilical hernia rarely involves surgery. Due to the mild character of the disorder, doctors prefer to correct umbilical hernia through other means rather than surgical intervention. In order to correct this type of hernia, doctors usually choose to strap up the umbilical region with sterile bandages after carefully pushing the prominent extremities of the belly button back into place. After the belly button has been correctly positioned, the straps will prevent it from sticking out, allowing the belly ring to heal properly. By using this technique, umbilical hernia heals very fast, leaving babies with no visible scars.

In rare cases, if umbilical hernia is very large or persistent, doctors may suggest correcting it through surgical intervention. The surgical intervention for umbilical hernia is very simple and doesn’t involve any risks. The incisions performed during the surgical intervention are small and they heal without leaving any permanent marks.

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Issues Raised By The Surgical Treatment For Inguinal Hernia

Issues Raised By The Surgical Treatment For Inguinal Hernia
Issues Raised By The Surgical Treatment For Inguinal Hernia

Inguinal hernia is a common type of hernia that occurs in the region of the groin. The disorder usually generates mild, unspecific symptoms, which can be misleading in establishing the correct diagnosis. Most people with inguinal hernia may actually have no symptoms at all, thus rendering the process of diagnosing the disorder even more difficult. The only reliable means of diagnosing inguinal hernia involve MRI scans (magnetic resonance imaging), X-ray scans, computerized tomography and laparoscopy. Due to the fact that inguinal hernia generally progresses latently, most people are diagnosed with the disorder long after they develop complications, thus requiring immediate surgery. However, if the disorder is discovered in time, patients have the possibility to choose whether they will have their hernia surgically repaired or not.

Besides from being difficult to diagnose, inguinal hernia also raises many post-operative issues. Although the surgical intervention for this type of hernia is a simple procedure that involves minimal risks, it can’t always prevent the disorder from reoccurring. In fact, the majority of patients that suffer surgical hernia repair experience an aggravation of the disorder in time. Considering the fact that inguinal hernia has a pronounced post-operative recurrent character, many doctors recommend patients to delay surgical intervention until it is absolutely required.

The exact reasons why inguinal hernia tends to reoccur in patients who have suffered surgical intervention remain unknown. However, the post-operative recurrence rate of inguinal hernia in patients is very high. Medical scientists have conducted various experiments in order to establish whether surgical intervention is indicated or not for patients with uncomplicated inguinal hernia. One recent study reveals that patients who decide to delay surgery generally experience the same symptoms as patients who suffer surgical interventions. 

Another recent experiment suggests that there is a greater chance for patients who have suffered surgery to experience more intense symptoms than patients who decide not to have their inguinal hernia surgically repaired. Hence, physicians recommend surgical intervention only to patients who suffer from complicated inguinal hernia, suggesting that surgery is not the best option in the treatment of the disorder. In fact, most medical professionals consider surgery to be a last-resort procedure in the treatment of inguinal hernia.

Despite the fact that the occurrence of inguinal hernia can’t be effectively prevented, most people diagnosed with the disorder can prevent the development of complications. If the disorder is timely discovered, probably the best option for patients is to keep the hernia under control and to delay surgery for as long as possible. People who suffer from mild, uncomplicated forms of inguinal hernia are recommended to avoid intense physical effort and to reduce the amount of stress in order to prevent further aggravation of the disorder. Also, patients diagnosed with inguinal hernia should pay regular visits to their doctors for physical examination. If patients who suffer from mild inguinal hernia take special measures for preventing the development of complications, they can delay surgery for many years.

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