How is umbilical hernia repair carried out?

Umbilical hernia repair is a fairly quick and simple operation. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes and it's usually possible to go home on the same day.

However, some people stay in hospital overnight if they have other medical problems or if they live alone.

Before the operation

The hospital will send instructions about when to stop eating and drinking before the operation.

At the hospital, you'll meet the nurse, anaesthetist (specialist who puts you or your child to sleep), and surgeon.

In most cases, the operation is carried out under general anaesthetic . This means you're asleep during the procedure and won't experience any pain as it's carried out.

If general anaesthetic is used, it's usually inhaled as a gas or injected into the back of the hand. You can stay with your child until they're asleep and taken into the operating theatre.

Local anaesthetic , where the area being operated on is numbed but you remain awake, is occasionally used instead of general anaesthetic. Thisis usually only considered in adults with a small hernia who aren't in good enough health to have a general anaesthetic.

During the operation

During umbilical hernia repair, the surgeon makes a small cut of about 2 to 3cm at the base of the belly button and pushes the fatty lump or loop of bowel back into the tummy (abdomen).

The muscle layers at the weak spot in the abdominal wall where the hernia came through are stitched together to strengthen them. For large or adult umbilical hernias, a special mesh patch may be placed in the abdominal wallto strengthen the area instead.

The wound on the surface of the skin is closed with dissolvable stitches or special surgical glue . Sometimes a pressure dressing is applied, which usually stays on for four to five days.

After the operation

Although the operation only takes up to 30 minutes, you'll be away from the ward for around an hour.

If your child has had surgery, you'll be taken to the recovery room as soon as they wake up so you can be with them on their way back to the ward.

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