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Strangulated umbilical hernia in a child: report of a case
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Chiba University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
Strangulated umbilical hernias in infants are rare but can lead to serious complications. This case highlights the importance of recognizing and managing this condition promptly in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
Background:
- Umbilical hernias are common in infants and typically resolve spontaneously.
- Complications are infrequent, making strangulation a rare occurrence.
Observation:
- A 5-month-old girl presented with a hard, reddish, and irreducible umbilical hernia.
- Abdominal radiography revealed signs of mechanical ileus, indicating a serious complication.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with a strangulated umbilical hernia involving a significant portion of the colon and ileum.
- Surgical intervention included repair of the fascial defect and umbilicoplasty, with an uneventful recovery.
Implications:
- This case underscores that infantile umbilical hernias can strangulate, particularly as the fascial defect narrows.
- Prompt diagnosis and surgical management are crucial for favorable outcomes in pediatric strangulated umbilical hernias.
Abstract:
Most umbilical hernias in children close spontaneously. Complications associated with umbilical hernias are rarely observed during follow-up. We report herein a 5-month-old girl with a strangulated umbilical hernia. Her umbilicus was hard, reddish, and irreducible. Plain radiography of the abdomen showed signs of mechanical ileus. The patient was thus diagnosed to have a strangulated umbilical hernia. A 5-cm section of the ascending colon and a 5-cm section of the terminal ileum, as well as the cecum and appendix, were congested, edematous, and erythematous, and together were enclosed by a firm hernial ring. A closure of the fascial defect and umbilicoplasty were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. In patients with infantile umbilical hernias, strangulation may occur as the fascial defect decreases in size.