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Current concepts on adult umbilical hernia

Hernia volume 3, pages 233–239 (1999)Cite this article

Summary

Umbilical hernia has not received as much attention as other abdominal wall defects. Prevalence in the adult population is 2% and is much more common in cirrhotic patients and obese middle-aged multiparous women. Adult umbilical hernias have an acquired origin as a consequence of increases in pressure (pregnancy, ascites, etc.), the pull of the abdominal muscles, and the deterioration of connective tissue. Attention needs to be paid to the development of umbilical hernias after laparoscopic trocar insertion. All trocar sites larger than 10 mm should be properly closed after operation. The high morbidity and mortality associated with incarcerated umbilical hernias demand an elective repair in all circumstances. There is a lack of control trials evaluating the results of surgical repairs based on the tight overlapping closure of the umbilical ring described by Mayo, while recurrence after umbilical herniorrhaphy is thought to be a common event. The possibility of the application of biomaterials to the surgical correction of umbilical hernias that have been successfully used in the inguinal canal opens a new field for further clinical investigation. Control studies with long follow-up are now required in order to establish evidence based umbilical surgery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Puerto Real University Hospital, Cra Nacional IV, Km 665, 11510, Puerto Real, Spain

    M. Velasco, M. A. Garcia-Ureña, V. Vega & F. J. Carnero

  2. Department of Surgery, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Cra de Andalucía Km 5.4, 28041, Madrid, Spain

    M. Hidalgo

Authors
  1. M. Velasco
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  2. M. A. Garcia-Ureña
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  3. M. Hidalgo
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  4. V. Vega
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  5. F. J. Carnero
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Velasco, M., Garcia-Ureña, M.A., Hidalgo, M. et al. Current concepts on adult umbilical hernia. Hernia 3, 233–239 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01194437

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Key words

  • Umbilical
  • Hernia
  • Hernioplasty
  • Herniorrhaphy