Umbilical and epigastric hernia repair

An umbilical hernia is a small bulge at the navel: some abdominal fat, sometimes bowel, passes through an opening that has remained too wide. An epigastric hernia (hernia of the linea alba) is very similar, located on the midline above the navel. They are encouraged by excess weight, pregnancies, chronic cough or repeated strain. In adults, they do not close on their own. For a small hernia, a short incision at the edge of the navel is enough: the contents are pushed back and the opening closed with strong stitches. As soon as the opening is a little wider, the wall is reinforced with a soft mesh placed behind the muscles, which markedly reduces the risk of recurrence. Some hernias, particularly when associated with separation of the rectus muscles (diastasis), can be repaired laparoscopically. Surgery is offered when the hernia is painful, getting bigger, bothersome in daily life or has already become stuck. It prevents strangulation, which is rare but requires emergency surgery. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, this operation is usually done as a short stay. The surgeon chooses the technique according to the size of the opening, body weight and the person's plans (a future pregnancy, for example, should be mentioned).