An Unusual Case of Umbilical Hernia Presenting as Persistent Umbilical Discharge- A Case Report and Breif Review

Abstract

The typical presentation of an umbilical hernia is a bulge close to the umbilicus, although in adults, the condition is rarely accompanied by discharge mfrom the umbilicus. This case study details the unusual way a 30-year-old lady with hypothyroidism presented with an umbilical hernia. For four years, the patient had intermittent purulent discharge from the umbilicus, with a noticeable rise in discharge during the last two months, and abdominal pain for five months.

Introduction: An umbilical hernia may be described as a condition in which the ventral abdominal fascia is weak at the level of umbilicus or slightly below this point. Hernias are very prevalent and most primary clinical assessments are used in diagnosis of umbilical hernias. It is possible to fix umbilical hernias without surgery, but approximately 64% of adults who have the condition will need a surgical procedure later in life. Anticipated umbilical hernia should be repaired before they become incarcerated and later strangulated with contents such as the omentum or colon. Umbilical herniorrhaphy can be performed by several techniques during surgery and might involve the use of a synthetic or biologic mesh.

Objectives: A 30-year-old female patient with hypothyroidism arrived with complaints of intermittent, pecking abdominal pain that worsened with food intake and was relieved by analgesics. She also complained of intermittent, purulent, intermittent umbilical discharge that had increased over the previous two months for the previous four years.

Methods: UMBILICAL EXPLORATION AND HERNIORRAPHY ,

Results: Post operatively the patient recovered without any complications Initial Umbilical discharge at the time of presentation subsided post herniorraphy.

Conclusions: In this case study, a 30-year-old hypothyroid woman with a persistent umbilical discharge  showed an uncommon appearance. For several years, the patient's primary complaints were purulent umbilical discharge and sporadic abdominal pain. Interestingly,all imaging showed the presence of a collection in the subcutaneous plane of the umbilical region with no apparent hernial defect /hernial content.During the surgery, it was discovered that there was a tiny umbilical hernia containing omentum. Imaging scans had shown a collection in the umbilical region with no intabdominal communication /sinuses /tracts.

The purulent discharge contained Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cultures. Interestingly ,The patient's symptoms disappeared after herniorrhaphy and umbilical investigation.