Strangulated umbilical hernias in children.

Abstract

Umbilical hernia is a frequent pathology of the anterior abdominal wall in children. The hernia ring closes usually before 4 years, but a strangulation can occur. It is an exceptional complication according to the literature data. Since this complication is rare, we undertook a retrospective study of these strangulations in a 5-year period from January 1997 to December 2001 at Aristide Le Dantec hospital. We collected 41 cases that underwent emergency surgery operations for strangulated umbilical hernias, which represent about 15% of umbilical hernias operated during the same period. The age range was 8 months to 10 years and the average age was 14 months. All the children were examined within 24 h after the onset of the disease and the surgery was immediately performed. In five cases the bowel was necrosed and perforated and we performed a resection followed immediately by an anastomosis. In the follow up, two children presented wound infections and a hernia recurred in one child. There was no mortality. This study conducts us to question western reports which recommend conservative therapy for umbilical hernia in children.

• Authors: I Fall, A Sanou, G Ngom, M Dieng, A A Sankalé, M Ndoye
• Journal: Pediatric surgery international (Pediatr Surg Int) Vol. 22 Issue 3 Pg. 233-5 (Mar 2006) ISSN: 0179-0358 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16435134 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hernia, Umbilical (complications, epidemiology, surgery)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Infant
• Intestinal Obstruction (epidemiology, etiology, surgery)
• Length of Stay
• Male
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Senegal (epidemiology)