Fifty-three-year experience with pediatric umbilical hernia repairs
Benjamin Zendejas1, Admire Kuchena, Edwin O Onkendi
1Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|November 15, 2011
Summary
Pediatric umbilical hernia (UH) repairs demonstrate excellent long-term results with low complication rates. Most children experience satisfactory cosmetic outcomes and remain pain-free after surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Hernia Repair
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Umbilical hernia (UH) is a common condition in children.
- Long-term outcomes of pediatric UH repair require further evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term surgical and patient-reported outcomes of pediatric umbilical hernia repairs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 489 pediatric UH repairs performed over 50 years.
- Follow-up data collected via mailed surveys with a 66% response rate.
Main Results:
- Low postoperative morbidity (2%) and recurrence rate (2%) after a mean follow-up of 13 years.
- High patient satisfaction with cosmetic appearance (90%) and pain-free status (96%).
- Complicated UH repairs were associated with smaller defects, necessitating vigilance for incarceration signs.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric umbilical hernia repair is associated with low morbidity and recurrence.
- The majority of patients report high satisfaction and are pain-free post-surgery.
- Parental counseling on recognizing incarceration signs is crucial, even for small umbilical hernias.
