Hernia in children

Hernia is a pathological relocation of organs outside their usual location in the body cavity, most commonly in the abdominal cavity.
It may be manifested already in childhood and is one of the most common abdominal integument disorders requiring surgical interventions in both boys and girls.

Hernia is formed in locations characterized by lower strength of the abdominal wall, sometimes at the point of contact of muscles, which are even weaker in children. These locations are known as hernia gates.
According to common belief, hernia is caused by excessive effort; in fact effort may only make hernia visible. Abdominal hernias in children should be classified as a specific type of congenital defects manifesting as a result of increased pressure within the abdominal cavity, caused by physical effort (in infants it is usually screaming, coughing, evacuation) which presses the intestines outside through the openings (gates). Hernia may be palpated as a slight protrusion, initially backing off spontaneously or upon light pressure. Untreated protrusion grows bigger. Most common abdominal hernias are inguinal hernia, umbilical hernia, white line hernia and femoral hernia, i.e. hernias in the of central abdomen and groin.

Umbilical hernia may occur in children below two years of age,. Usually, it seals spontaneously. If umbilical hernia is not healed, it should be operated after the age of 2. Umbilical hernia is a common and the least hazardous hernia in children. As soon as parents notice a protrusion in the umbilical region, they should visit the doctor to confirm the diagnosis and show parents methods for hiding the hernia which would allow to deal with the problem without the need for surgery.

However, if hernia is found in the region of groin or scrotum, a surgical procedure is required, since this type of hernias do not retract spontaneously. Of biggest danger to the paediatric patient is trapping an intestinal loop in the hernia gates. This complication may lead even to life-threatening intestinal obstruction, necrosis or perforation of the intestinal wall . In case inguinal hernia trapping is noticed, one must see the doctor as soon as possible, as the child must be operated in emergency setting. It is possible to retract the hernia into the abdominal cavity and schedule an elective surgery. However, sometimes children have to be operated in emergency setting. The surgical procedure consists in abdominal integument plastic operation closing the hernia gates with simultaneous reinforcement of abdominal cavity. Children are hospitalized for short periods and recover quickly.

Paediatric hernia surgeries in the LUX MED Group Hospital are performed by experienced paediatric surgeons: Dr. Piotr Szynaka MD, PhD, Dr. Piotr Gastoł MD, PhD, Dr. Jan Gruchalski MD, PhD and Dr. Włodzimierz Grochowski MD.

For more information on the procedures performed in the LUX MED Group Hospital, call 22 431 20 59 or visit szpital@luxmed.pl .