Epigastric Hernias
- a small bump or swelling above the belly button
- discomfort or pain
- Give anesthesia so the child sleeps through the procedure and won't feel any pain.
- Make a small incision (cut) in the skin.
- Remove the fat poking through the hernia defect or push it back into the abdomen.
- Close the hole or weak spot in the muscle with stitches.
- is vomiting
What are the most common symptoms of an epigastric hernia?
Your chances are also higher if you:
- Are overweight
- Have been pregnant multiple times
- Have a lot of belly fluid (a condition called ascites)
- Have a long-term cough
- Have trouble peeing because of an enlarged prostate
- Are constipated for long periods of time
- Vomit repeatedly
When does epigastric hernia need repair?
Why does the epigastric hernia need to be repaired? This type of hernia will not close on its own and must be repaired with surgery within a few months after finding it or sooner if your child is in pain. If not repaired, the hernia may get bigger or become painful. Very rarely, the hernia can get stuck, which is called “incarcerated.”
What are the health risk factors of an epigastric hernia?
What are the Complications of Epigastric Hernia Surgery?
- Wound infection can be a complication of epigastric hernia surgery. Infections may occur after the surgery if not taken care properly. ...
- Wound hematoma is a complication of epigastric hernia surgery. A firm swelling can be seen if there is bleeding under the skin. ...
- Recurrence of epigastric hernia is a possible complication of epigastric hernia surgery. ...
What increases my risk for an epigastric hernia?
Epigastric hernias commonly occur between the ages of 20 and 50. Other risk factors for hernias include weakness in the abdomenal muscles, obesity, being pregnant multiple times, and having surgery that involves an incision in the abdomenal wall. Lifting weights may also be a cause, but it usually just makes an existing hernia more obvious.
What are the symptoms of an epigastric hernia?
What are the signs and symptoms of umbilical and epigastric hernias?A bulge in the affected area.Pain — which can range from a dull ache to severe pain — especially when coughing, sneezing or lifting heavy objects.Bloating or constipation.
How serious is an epigastric hernia?
The hernia can cause severe pain and other potentially serious problems that could require emergency surgery. An epigastric hernia comes through the linea alba between the umbilicus and the bottom end of the sternal bone. These hernias are multiple in 20% of the cases.
Do epigastric hernias always need surgery?
An epigastric hernia will not heal by itself and does require surgery to be repaired. However, unless the hernia threatens to become an emergency, surgery can be postponed until the child is older.
What aggravates a epigastric hernia?
An epigastric hernia is usually asymptomatic but can present with pain and/or a notable lump just below the breastbone. The hernia can be aggravated by exercise and eating at times. On rare occasions it can also become very painful and irreducible (incarcerated).
How do you get rid of an epigastric hernia?
Surgery is the only way to repair an epigastric hernia. It's the recommended treatment, even for infants, due to the risk of the hernia enlarging and causing additional complications and pain. To complete the repair, you might only need sutures, or you may require an implanted mesh.
What happens if a hernia is left untreated?
“Hernias cannot heal on their own — if left untreated, they usually get bigger and more painful, and can cause serious health risks in some cases.” If the wall through which the intestine is protruding closes shut, it can cause a strangulated hernia, which cuts off blood flow to the bowel.
How big is an epigastric hernia?
They may vary in size, and it is possible to have more than one epigastric hernia at a time. Typically, an epigastric hernia is small, with only the lining of the abdomen breaking through the surrounding tissue. Larger hernias, however, may cause fatty tissue or part of the stomach to push through.
How is a epigastric hernia diagnosed?
An epigastric hernia can usually be diagnosed simply by clinical examination, i.e. following inspection and palpation of the hernial swelling. The hernial swelling can often be reduced easily on lying down and the hernial orifice can be felt.
Can you push an epigastric hernia back in?
An irreducible hernia cannot be pushed back inside. Any time a hernia cannot be reduced, you should contact your health-care provider. Sometimes these types of hernias can become strangulated. The tissue, usually intestine, can become trapped and the blood supply cut off.
Is exercise good for epigastric hernia?
You can exercise if you have a hernia. The key is focusing on exercises that won't strain the area where your hernia is located. For abdominal hernias, this means exercises or lifting routines that involve straining or pulling in the abdominal area are not recommended.
What to avoid if you have an epigastric hernia?
They may cause heartburn symptoms.Citrus foods, such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, and orange juice, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, and lemonade.Chocolate.Fatty and fried foods, such as fried chicken and fatty cuts of meat.Garlic and onions.Spicy food.Peppermint and spearmint.More items...•
Can hernia cause gas and bloating?
An inguinal hernia can cause someone to feel like they had an enormous meal when in fact they did not. This very common type of hernia can also make you feel bloated accompanied with pain in the groin and lower abdomen. Some of these easy to miss signs of a hernia can be potentially dangerous if not treated.
What causes an epigastric hernia?
Some factors that may cause or exacerbate epigastric hernias include: obesity. pregnancy. coughing fits. heavy lifting. physical labor. intensive training or sports.
Where are hernias located?
Epigastric hernias are lumps or bulges that occur in the upper part of the abdominal wall – in an area known as the epigastrium, which is above the navel and just below the breastbone. Epigastric hernias can be present from birth.
What is a hernia in children?
Treatment for children. Outlook. A hernia is a bulge that results from bodily tissue pushing through the surrounding muscle. The majority of hernias occur in the abdomen, and there are several types of abdominal hernias, including those known as epigastric hernias.
What is the procedure to repair a hernia?
Surgical repair can be carried out under general anesthetic or local anesthetic, depending on the preference of the individual and the advice of the surgeon. Once the anesthetic has taken its course, the surgeon will make an incision in the hernia and insert a laparoscope.
What is the term for a bump in the abdomen that can be seen and felt?
pain. tenderness . an abdominal bump that can be seen and felt. Certain actions, such as straining, crying, or having a bowel movement, may produce or exacerbate these symptoms. The symptoms of some epigastric hernias come and go, which is known as a reducible hernia.
How long does it take for a bulge to heal after abdominal surgery?
Some postoperative pain, discomfort, swelling, and bruising in the abdominal area are normal. Doctors may recommend pain relief for the first 48 hours. A bulge may still be present after the surgery. This is likely to be caused by the suture used to close the abdominal wall and should diminish over time.
What is the stitch for a hernia?
If the area causing muscular weakness is small, the surgeon may stitch it up. These permanent stitches are known as sutures, and they will prevent the hernia from pushing through again. Large areas of muscular weakness may require a patch of nylon mesh, which is stitched in place to cover the hole.
What is an epigastric hernia?
Surgery. Recovery. An epigastric hernia happens when a weakness in the abdominal muscle allows the tissues of the abdomen to protrude through the muscle. It is usually present at birth and is similar to an umbilical hernia, except the umbilical hernia forms around the belly button and the epigastric hernia is usually between ...
What is the sac in a hernia called?
This tissue is called the “hernia sac.”. The surgeon returns the hernia sac to its proper position, then begins to repair the muscle defect. If the defect in the muscle is small, it may be sutured closed. The sutures will remain in place permanently, preventing the hernia from returning.
How long does it take for a hernia to heal?
Most hernia patients are able to return to their normal activity within two to four weeks. Elderly patients make take longer. The belly will be tender, especially for the first week. During this time, the incision should be protected during activity that increases abdominal pressure by applying firm but gentle pressure on the incision line .
What is the tissue that is pushing through the abdominal lining called?
The surgeon then isolates the portion of the abdominal lining that is pushing through the muscle. This tissue is called the “hernia sac.”.
What color is a strangulated hernia?
A strangulated hernia can be identified by the deep red or purple color of the bulging tissue. It may be accompanied by severe pain, but is not always painful. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal swelling may also be present.
Why do my hernias not show up in my life?
For many, a hernia does not cause symptoms until later in life due to obesity, muscle weakness, or strain on the muscular wall of the abdomen.
What is an incarcerated hernia?
An incarcerated hernia is an emergency when it becomes a “strangulated hernia,” where the tissue that bulges outside of the muscle is being starved of its blood supply. This can cause the death of the tissue that is bulging through the hernia.
What is an epigastric hernia?
Epigastric hernia. Abdominal ultrasound of a midline epigastric hernia. An epigastric her nia is a type of hernia that causes fat to push through a weakened area in the walls of the abdomen. It may develop in the epigastrium (upper, central part of the abdomen ). Epigastric hernias are more common in adults and usually appear above ...
Where do epigastric hernias appear?
Epigastric hernias are more common in adults and usually appear above the umbilical region of the abdomen. It is a common condition that is usually asymptomatic although sometimes their unusual clinical presentation can present a diagnostic dilemma for the clinician.
What is the best way to diagnose a suspected hernia?
Computed tomography scans of the suspected areas with intravenous contrast can assist in diagnosis. Doctors are also able to identify whether it is a suspected hernia by palpating the affected area. Ultrasonography is also used for diagnostic purposes.
Can an epigastric hernia cause tissue damage?
Unlike the benign diastasis recti, epigastric hernia may trap fat and other tissues inside the opening of the hernia, causing pain and tissue damage. It is usually present at birth and may appear and disappear only when the patient is doing an activity that creates abdominal pressure, pushing to have bowel movements, or crying.
Can epigastric hernias be repaired?
Symptomatic epigastric hernias are repaired with surgery. Even if they are asymptomatic, they can be surgically corrected for cosmetic reasons. In general, cosmetic surgery on infants is delayed until the infant is older and better able to tolerate anesthesia. If the size of the hernia is greater than 4 cm, then a hernioplasty or herniorraphy surgery is required.
How to diagnose an epigastric hernia?
Diagnosing an Epigastric Hernia. These small hernias are often diagnosed during a CT scan or another imaging test performed for a different reason. They may never cause any symptoms. If an epigastric hernia is causing symptoms, it may be diagnosed through a physical exam or through imaging tests such as ultrasounds.
What is the difference between an epigastric hernia and an epigastric hernia?
While all hernias occur when a weakening in your abdominal wall allows tissue to push through, epigastric hernias typically involve fat pushing through the abdominal wall.
Why do some hernias disappear?
Some seem to appear and disappear, which is known as a reducible hernia. Obesity and pregnancy both put pressure on the abdominal wall and can be risk factors for epigastric hernias.
What is it called when a hernia gets stuck?
When tissue gets stuck in a hernia, this is known as an incarceration. Often, this tissue can be pushed back inside when the patient is lying on their back. In infants who have epigastric hernias, repairs are often put off for several months.
Why does my baby have a bulge in the belly button?
In infants with epigastric hernias, they may be more apparent when the baby is crying or having a bowel movement. While epigastric hernias can cause pain, they often are not felt at all.
Why is it dangerous to have a hernia in jail?
This is because babies are better able to tolerate anesthetic once they are older, which reduces any risks associated with surgery. As long as the hernia is not getting larger, the chances of complications are small. An incarcerated hernia can become dangerous if strangulation occurs.
Where do ventral hernias occur?
Most occur around the navel and are often confused with umbilical hernias. They can occur anywhere from the breast bone to the navel, however. These hernias may be called ventral hernias by your doctor. This type of hernia is usually small.
What is an epigastric hernia?
An epigastric (eh-pih-GAS-trik) hernia is when part of the intestines pushes through the abdominal muscles between the belly button and the chest. Many are small, cause no symptoms, and don't need treatment. Larger ones that do cause symptoms won't heal on their own, but surgery can fix the problem.
How to diagnose an epigastric hernia?
How Are Epigastric Hernias Diagnosed? Doctors can diagnose an epigastric hernia by doing an exam to look for a bump and asking about a child's symptoms, such as pain .
How to remove a hernia defect?
Remove the fat poking through the hernia defect or push it back into the abdomen. Close the hole or weak spot in the muscle with stitches. Close the incision with absorbable sutures under the skin and tape strips. The strips will fall off on their own in 1–2 weeks.
Why do my babies have hernias?
Babies can be born with this problem, or it can happen later because of weakness in the surrounding muscles or strain on the abdominal wall.
Where is the opening of the intestine?
With an epigastric hernia, the opening is near the center of the abdomen (belly), between the bottom of the breastbone (sternum) and the belly button. This area is called the epigastrium. Epigastric hernias happen because ...
Can epigastric hernias cause pain?
Most epigastric hernias don't cause symptoms. When they do, a child might have: a small bump or swelling above the belly button. discomfort or pain. The pain may get worse when the child stands, sneezes, coughs, or strains to go to the bathroom.
How long does it take to remove a hernia?
The operation is usually performed under a general anaesthetic but various anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation usually takes about 30 minutes. Your surgeon will make a cut over the hernia and free up the ‘hernial sac’. If only fat is pushing through, your surgeon will either remove the fat or push it back.
How to get back to normal after a hernia surgery?
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice. Most people make a full recovery and can return to normal activities. The hernia can come back many years later and you may need another operation.
What is the condition where the umbilicus is weak?
An epigastric hernia is a common condition caused by a weakness in your abdominal wall between your umbilicus and sternum. If left untreated, an epigastric hernia can cause serious complications.
What is the lump in the middle of the abdomen called?
An epigastric hernia is a lump in the midline between your umbilicus (belly button) and sternum (breastbone) which can cause pain. Your abdominal cavity contains your intestines and other structures. These are protected by your abdominal wall, which is made up of four layers.
How to tell if epigastric hernia is severe?
If the physician is still not sure or if they want to determine how severe your epigastric hernia is they may have a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound done so they can look internally at your abdominal wall between your belly button and breastbone.
What does it mean when your epigastric hernia hurts?
Having unbearable or severe pain, which is usually in the upper belly. This usually happens when the epigastric hernia gets larger and gets trapped in the abdomen’s muscular wall. You may also notice a tender feeling around the area that is affected. You may also run a fever which can range from low to high grade.
How do you know if you have an epigastric hernia?
Some of the symptoms of having an epigastric hernia may include: The first sign is swelling or a bulge in your abdomen. You can usually feel this when you have a bowel movement or if your bend over to get something. The exertion can also come from laughing, coughing, or crying. The exertion of any of these can cause a strain on your abdomen ...
What are the two types of hernias?
There are two different types of epigastric hernias. Reducible epigastric hernia - this is the type in which the bulging tissue is pushing out of the hole or weakness and then falls back in again. Incarcerated epigastric hernia - this is the type in which the bulging tissue becomes lodged in the protruded position.
Why is my epigastric hernia blue?
This symptom can indicate something serious because the discoloration of your skin happens when it has become strangled. This can happen when the blood flow is totally cut off from the hernia.
Why are my abdominal walls weak?
It can also be caused with a small portion of any of your abdominal organs such as your liver, stomach, etc or small portion of your intestine becomes caught up in the wall so your abdominal cavity.
How to strengthen abdominal wall weakness?
The surgeon will also strengthen the weakness in your abdominal walls by stitching a patch of nylon mesh in place or using permanent stitches.
How does a hiatal hernia affect the stomach?
With a hiatal hernia, part of the stomach bulges up through this opening and into the chest. You won’t see any lump, but you might get heartburn or chest pain and notice a sour taste in your mouth.
How to fix a hernia?
The only way to fix them is through surgery, but they can be hard to treat. Incisional hernias are common in people who have had surgery, especially emergency surgery. You can be more likely to get one if you do any of these things before your incision heals completely: Gain a lot of weight.
What are the two types of hernias?
There are two types: inguinal and femoral. Almost all groin hernias are inguinal. You get them when part of your intestine pushes through a weakness in the lower belly and affects an area of the groin called the inguinal canal. There are two kinds of this hernia: Indirect.
What happens if you don't treat hernia?
But if you don’t treat them, they can lead to more severe problems. For example, the part of the intestine that’s poking through can have its blood supply cut off. When this happens, it’s called a strangulated hernia, and it can be life-threatening. Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms: Fever.
Where do groin hernias bulge?
They’re more common in older women. They are often mistaken for inguinal hernias. They bulge into a different area of the groin called the femoral canal. You might see a lump right around the crease of the groin or just into the upper thigh.
What is the second most common type of hernia?
Umbilical Hernias. This is the second most common type of hernia. They happen when fat or part of the intestine pushes through muscle near the belly button. They’re more common in newborns -- especially in those born earlier than expected and babies under 6 months old -- but adults can get them, too.
What is the first line of treatment for a hernia?
Lifestyle changes and drugs to ease symptoms are usually the first line of treatment. Often, though, you might not even know that you have one and wouldn’t need to do anything about it. Other Hernias. Less common types include: Epigastric hernia.
Overview
Symptoms
- An epigastric hernia is typically small enough that only the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdominal cavity, pushes through the muscle wall. In minor cases, the issue may be diagnosed during a CT scan or other testing for an entirely different issue, and may never cause symptoms. In fact, many epigastric hernias are diagnosed in adults, rather than in children. In severe cases, …
Clinical significance
- It is not uncommon for an adult to be diagnosed with an epigastric hernia that they were unaware of earlier in life. It is also possible for a hernia that was known to be present for many years to become an issue as the individual ages.
Administration
- This surgery is performed by a general surgeon or a colon-rectal specialist, if the patient is a child a surgeon who specializes in pediatrics is typically performing the procedure.
Treatment
- Once anesthesia is given, surgery begins with an incision on either side of the hernia. A laparoscope is inserted into one incision, and the other incision is used for additional surgical instruments. The surgeon then isolates the portion of the abdominal lining that is pushing through the muscle. This tissue is called the hernia sac. The surgeon returns the hernia sac to its proper …
Risks
- If the suture method is used with larger muscle defects (approximately the size of a quarter or larger), the chance of reoccurrence is increased. The use of mesh in larger hernias is the standard of treatment, but it may not be appropriate if the patient has a history of rejecting surgical implants or a condition that prevents the use of mesh.
Prognosis
- Most hernia patients are able to return to their normal activity within two to four weeks. Elderly patients make take longer. The belly will be tender, especially for the first week. During this time, the incision should be protected during activity that increases abdominal pressure by applying firm but gentle pressure on the incision line.
Overview
An epigastric hernia is a type of hernia that causes fat to push through a weakened area in the walls of the abdomen. It may develop in the epigastrium (upper, central part of the abdomen). Epigastric hernias are more common in adults and usually appear above the umbilical region of the abdomen. It is a common condition that is usually asymptomatic although sometimes their unusual clinical presentation can present a diagnostic dilemma for the clinician. Unlike the benign diastasis …
Symptoms
• Pain
• tenderness
• redness
• Impulse on cough
Causes
• Obesity
• Pregnancy.
• Frequent heavy lifting
• Genetic defects
• Aging
Diagnosis
Computed tomography scans of the suspected areas with intravenous contrast can assist in diagnosis. Doctors are also able to identify whether it is a suspected hernia by palpating the affected area.
Ultrasonography is also used for diagnostic purposes.
Treatment
Symptomatic epigastric hernias are repaired with surgery. Even if they are asymptomatic, they can be surgically corrected for cosmetic reasons. In general, cosmetic surgery on infants is delayed until the infant is older and better able to tolerate anesthesia. If the size of the hernia is greater than 4 cm, then a hernioplasty or herniorraphy surgery is required.
Prognosis
Epigastric hernia becomes a problem when the hernia becomes incarcerated or loses blood supply to that area. This can be life-threatening.
See also
• Diastasis recti