Is hot compress useful for umbilical hernia?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on January 01, 2025
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In cases of umbilical hernia, applying heat generally has no effect. For infants, it is often acceptable to observe conservatively until the child is about two years old. Adhesive tape therapy can be used in this period. By the age of two, the umbilical ring in most children will close on its own. For those over two years old with an umbilical ring diameter still greater than 1.5 cm, surgery should be considered. For patients over five years old, it is generally recommended to undergo surgery sooner rather than later. In adults, the causes of umbilical hernias are mainly due to factors such as pregnancy, excessive fat in the greater omentum, chronic coughing, cirrhosis with ascites, etc., which increase abdominal pressure. Incarceration can occur, involving either the greater omentum or the small intestine, and surgery is usually the chosen treatment method, either through traditional tissue repair techniques or open tension-free hernia repair. In some cases, laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair may be chosen when necessary.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Nursing methods for umbilical hernia

Care methods for umbilical hernia, we need to pay attention to the following points. If during a child's intense crying or activity, the contents of the umbilical hernia protrusion are relatively large, it is important to promptly soothe the patient to avoid incarceration. Because if the incarceration lasts too long, it can lead to necrosis or even rupture of the intestine, potentially endangering the child's life and requiring emergency surgical treatment. The general conservative treatment method for umbilical hernia is to select a coin or flat plate larger than the diameter of the umbilical ring, wrap it around to press against the umbilical ring, and then secure it with adhesive tape to prevent movement. Generally, most children can self-heal within six months. If the umbilical hernia does not heal by itself after two years and the diameter of the umbilical ring is greater than 1.5 cm, surgery is recommended. In any case, if the patient is older than five years and has not healed in a timely manner, it is advisable to proactively opt for surgery as soon as possible.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What should I do about an umbilical hernia?

Umbilical hernia is a type of hernia, mainly caused by poor development of the navel area and a relatively weak abdominal wall at the navel. It occurs when the intestines protrude through the belly button towards the surface of the body due to increased intra-abdominal pressure. The main treatments are as follows: if the infant or toddler is under two years old and the hernia is relatively small, it can be observed conservatively or it might close on its own. If the child is older than two years and the hernia is larger, surgical repair may be necessary. For adults with an umbilical hernia, surgical repair is generally the best treatment method.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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What are good remedies for infant umbilical hernia?

Umbilical hernia in infants is caused by congenital underdevelopment of the abdominal muscles, forming a bulge beneath the skin due to abdominal distension protruding from the umbilicus. In fact, it usually does not require special treatment. Most umbilical hernias will gradually narrow and shrink within the first year after birth as the infant's nutrition and physique improve and the abdominal muscles develop, typically leading to natural closure with a very good prognosis. In daily care, it is important to prevent the child from crying loudly, especially when the child has gastrointestinal diseases and increased intestinal gas, which should be actively treated to minimize the herniation and to reduce it back when it does protrude. With such care, the chances of natural healing increase. However, if the child is over four years old and the hernia sac is still relatively large, surgical repair might be necessary.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Can sheath effusion be treated with an umbilical hernia belt?

Can a hernia belt be used for hydrocele? Basically, a hernia belt is of no use for hydrocele. First, you need to understand the difference between hydrocele and hernia. What is a hernia? A hernia occurs when there's a hole in the groin area through which abdominal organs such as the omentum, intestines, and abdominal fluids can leak into the scrotum. By simply covering this hole, the descent of these abdominal contents can be prevented, which is the function of a hernia belt. What about hydrocele? It occurs when the processus vaginalis does not close properly or at all. Usually, it's still small enough that only abdominal fluids can leak into the scrotum, but larger organs like the intestines cannot descend. Therefore, using a hernia belt is ineffective for a hydrocele because there's no hole in the groin area that needs covering or blocking. Hence, a hernia belt is useless for hydrocele.

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Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
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What does it look like after an umbilical hernia is healed?

After umbilical hernia occurs, if it is cured and the wound heals, there is no difference from normal. There will be no lumps protruding from the abdominal wall. In principle, surgical treatment is often required after umbilical hernia occurs, as the likelihood of natural healing is small. The surgery mainly involves a tension-free umbilical hernia repair, which includes suturing the hernia ring and generally reinforcing it externally to ensure that the hernia does not recur. After the umbilical hernia is cured, the patient's navel will be flat with no protruding lumps, and there will be no incarceration of the hernia or compression of the intestines, which could cause gastrointestinal symptoms.