Paraumbilical Hernia

Pregnancy complications are health issues that arise during pregnancy. They can affect the health of the mother, the baby, or both. Some women experience health issues during pregnancy or as a result of childbirth, which might result in complications. To reduce the risk of pregnancy difficulties, women should seek medical attention before and during their pregnancy.

Let’s discuss a few unique complications of pregnancy such as paraumbilical hernia and divarication of recti.

What does paraumbilical hernia mean?

A hernia is a type of disorder wherein an organ bulges out from an unusual hole. Similarly, a paraumbilical hernia occurs when an organ bulges through an abdominal wall that is attached to the umbilicus. If the hole is large enough, the abdominal contents, including omental fat or bowel, may come out too.

Paraumbilical hernia does not get diagnosed early despite its presence since birth. The contents from the stomach accumulate and create a lump through the abdominal wall. This accumulation can cause extreme pain to the person and the lump can be noticed only when it develops.

What causes paraumbilical hernia?

Paraumbilical hernias are most commonly caused by intra-abdominal pressure from carrying excess body weight, ascites (accumulated fluid between the abdominal lining and the organs), cancer or other intra-abdominal malignancy, repeated pregnancies, lifting heavy weight, and chronic coughing.

Treating paraumbilical hernia

A hernia cannot be cured with medical treatment. It necessitates surgical intervention, which entails the closure of the hole. If the hole is small enough, it may be possible to close it by simply reattaching the connective tissue.

Most hernias require permanent treatments. Generally, a laparoscopy or general mesh repair is ensured. Mesh is the material used in the treatment, which can be composed of a variety of materials, depending on the brand. A mesh patch may be used to strengthen the weak abdominal wall by your surgeon. Dissolvable sutures will be used to sew the skin, and a dressing will be put on the incision.

Adult hernias are difficult to treat as they cause strangulation (a strangulated hernia can be a life-threatening issue), but hernias in children get healed within five years.

What is divarication of recti?

Divarication of the rectus is a disorder in which the rectus abdominis muscles are no longer close to each other. It occurs because of the stretching of the linea alba between the inner two sides of the muscle. The rectus abdominis is a muscle which runs up and down the abdomen from the xiphoid to the pubic bone.

What causes divarication of the recti?

Divarication can be caused by a variety of factors, including heavy weight lifting. Multiple pregnancies are the most common cause in women. This problem can also affect heavier men in their upper abdomen. Even in thin-built women, pregnancy-induced rectus divarication can cause a considerable shape change in the abdominal wall.

Men have a ectus divarication pattern, which is seen as a midline bulge between the xiphoid and the umbilicus.

How is divarication of recti treated?

The only treatment for divarication of recti involves strengthening abdominal core muscles. If divarication develops in conjunction with a paraumbilical hernia, the hernia is treated with mesh and the divarication is repaired by internal stitching through laparoscopy.

Conclusion

Some complications of pregnancy cause a few organs to bulge out or muscles to stretch. In these conditions, women need emergency treatments. The rectus abdominis muscle can separate during pregnancy, resulting in recti divarication, also known as diastasis rectus or separation of the abdominal wall. Paraumbilical hernia is a result of pregnancy wherein an organ bulges out from the umbilicus.

Written By:

Dr. Nanda Rajaneesh

General Surgery, Laparoscopy and Minimal Access Surgery
Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Bangalore-Koramangala