Spontaneous Rupture of an Umbilical Hernia with Evisceration of Small Intestines in a 16-year-old girl

ABSTRACT

Background: Umbilical hernia is relatively common in African children. Most of these hernias close spontaneously as the children grow older and they are often remarkably free from complications. Aim: To report a case of spontaneous rupture of an umbilical hernia with evisceration of small bowel. Setting: Seaside Specialist Surgery; Port Harcourt. Case report A 16-year-old girl; who had had an untreated umbilical hernia from birth; developed a severe pain at the site of the swelling. The swelling had quickly enlarged as a result of an obstructed loop of bowel within it. Traditional medicaments applied to it did not relieve the pain. Severe retching and vomiting ensued resulting in a spontaneous rupture of the umbilical skin. Subsequently; there was evisceration of loops of bowel through the defect. At operation; the eviscerated bowel loops were found to be viable and were returned into the peritoneal cavity. The abdomen was closed in layers with repair of the umbilical defect. Post operatively; her condition was satisfactory. Conclusion: Complications associated with umbilical hernia are not common but justify prevention by early repair of umbilical hernias with large defects