Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Epigastric hernia
Introduction
An epigastric hernia is a hernia in the epigastric region of a human.
It commonly is found in neonates (babies). Typically there is a small defect of the linea alba between the rectus abdominis muscles. This allows tissue from inside the abdomen to herniate anteriorly.
The appearance is of a ‘bubble’ under the skin of the baby’s belly between the umbilicus and xiphisternum. The ‘bubble’ can be ‘reduced’ (pushed back in), and will reappear if the baby coughs or strains.
It can be surgically corrected, although the operation is done almost entirely for cosmetic reasons. In general, any cosmetic operation that is proposed on a baby will be delayed until the baby is older, and better able to tolerate anaesthesia.
Epigastric hernias almost never strangulate. Compare inguinal hernia.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]