Surgical Repair of Umbilical Hernia in Children

Abstract

lective repair of an umbilical hernia is one of the most common surgical operations performed by pediatric surgeons, although most of them resolve spontaneously during the first 3 years of life. The exact technique and steps involved in the repair differ widely among pediatric surgeons. Many pediatric surgeons prefer the transverse interrupted suture technique in rectus sheath closure than the purse string or continuous technique as it isolates the tension to each individual stitch, ensures correct suture placement and precise coaptation of edges. It is less likely to devascularize the incision margin. Interrupted sutures also have the advantage that they can be removed individually if infection or haematoma formed, while the purse string suture or the continuous closure has the disadvantage of being a single suture line holding the fascia together and most of wound dehiscence occurs because sutures cut through the fascia. In this study we give a chance to assess the efficacy of the purse string technique.