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Low risk, but not no risk, of umbilical hernia complications requiring acute surgery in childhood
Author(s) -
Ireland Amanda,
Gollow Ian,
Gera Parshotam
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12480
Subject(s) - medicine , umbilical hernia , hernia , surgery , incidence (geometry) , umbilicus (mollusc) , complication , physics , optics
Aims Umbilical hernias are a common finding in the paediatric community, with a preponderance to affect A fro‐ C aribbean and premature children. The rate of incarceration varies greatly between populations. Therefore, it is valuable to obtain some A ustralian data on this topic. Methods We undertook a retrospective study of the records of all patients who underwent umbilical hernia repair over a 12‐year period of between O ctober 1999 and M ay 2012 at Princess Margaret Hospital. From this group, all patients that had an umbilical hernia repair for reason of acute complication were identified and analysed for age, ethnicity and co‐morbidities. Results Between O ctober 1999 and M ay 2012, 433 umbilical hernias were repaired at Princess Margaret Hospital, five of which were as the direct result of an acutely complicated umbilical hernia. The mean age of hernia repair was 5 years old, and the mean age of acute complication was 5 years old. Out of the patients with acutely complicated umbilical hernia, there were no A fro‐ C aribbean patients, and one was premature complicated by hyaline membrane disease and broncho‐pulmonary dysplasia. Conclusions Western A ustralia has an incidence of acutely complicated umbilical hernia requiring operative intervention of 1:3000 to 1:11 000. On an international scale, this is low, and studies with similar incidence do not advocate for immediate repair of all identified umbilical hernias. The authors believe repair should be guided by patient and guardian, but if there is an episode of incarceration, acute repair is advised.