An umbilical hernia is a tear in the abdominal wall causing a bulge near the belly button (umbilicus). Some people are born with umbilical hernias. Other people get them as adults because of obesity, childbirth, or straining of the abdominal wall.
At present, the only treatment for a hernia is surgery. In addition to causing pain, they can trap, wrap around, or “strangle” part of the intestine, reducing the blood supply to the intestines. If left untreated, this would lead to severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and bowel obstruction and would require emergency surgery.
Doctors use a physical exam and may use imaging studies, such as an ultrasound or a CT scan, to make a diagnosis.
Most umbilical hernias require surgery. Our surgeons are experienced in minimally invasive surgical techniques using small incisions. This method allows for:
Doctors reduce the hernia, placing the contents of the abdomen back into their proper place. They use sutures, mesh, or both to reinforce and repair the abdominal wall.
Depending on the complexity of the hernia, patients may go home the day of surgery or require a short hospital stay.
When you go home:
Call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 or request an appointment to learn more about AHN general surgery services.
For follow-up questions related to your hernia care, contact the Comprehensive’s Hernia Center’s Clinical Coordinator, Jennifer Somers at (412) 578-4215 or at jennifer.somers@ahn.org.
