The use of a patch for umbilical hernia

The appearance of an umbilical hernia in a child occurs during fetal development or after birth. In congenital pathologies, only the option of surgical removal of the defect with plastic surgery of the umbilical ring is considered. Acquired diseases in children under 6 years of age can still disappear without surgical intervention, but for this you need to follow a number of recommendations from a pediatrician.

Among the many folk and medical remedies for the treatment of protrusion, there is a sealing of an umbilical hernia with a special plaster (Arilis, Porofix, Chicco), which fixes the navel, preventing organs from exiting through the umbilical ring.

The use of therapeutic adhesive tape has a positive effect on the condition of the hernia. It holds the navel, thereby preventing sudden pinching, and helping to reposition the organs in their place. In other moments, the patch for umbilical hernia is inferior to the use of a bandage, because the latter holds not only the navel, but also covers the entire tummy, preventing the negative impact on the hernia of increased intra-abdominal pressure.

A special corset also allows you to evenly distribute the load on the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall, which is the prevention of hernia incarceration and compression of internal organs. But the patch for umbilical hernia does not exclude the risk of complications associated with careless movement of the child and high pressure inside the peritoneum, which occurs with constipation and swelling.

Therapeutic plaster for hernia

A hernia of the umbilical ring in children is the result of muscle weakness near the navel and increased stress on the anterior abdominal wall. After cutting the umbilical cord, the process of tissue scarring occurs, and if it is disturbed, there is a risk of pathology. Already at an older age, a hernia can be the result of muscle damage, surgery, early onset of walking, and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Adhesive plaster for hernia of the navel in children is one of the methods of conservative treatment of acquired pathology in a child under 6 years old. For older children, the patch will not help in any way, and only radical removal of the hernia by laparoscopic and open hernioplasty is considered.

The medical plaster is made of hypoallergenic materials, which only in rare cases cause irritation of the baby's skin. It is fixed directly on the navel for a certain period of time, after which it is removed, and the skin is moistened with baby cream.

Some children have intolerance to such patches, and then other methods of fixing the hernia are considered.

Representatives

Well-known manufacturers of patches for children with umbilical hernia today are the companies Hartman, Chicco, Arilis and Porofix.

The patch "Arilis" is indicated for the treatment of hernia in newborns and children under 5 years of age. It is both curative and preventive. "Arilis" can be used to correct the shape of the navel when it is somewhat convex. Its uniqueness lies in the method of fixation.

The patch "Arilis" can be securely sealed on the navel due to fastening according to the principle of the belt. The manufacturer promises a positive result after 10-14 days of daily use. "Arilis" is also transparent, it remains invisible on the skin of the child. Such a patch is elastic, therefore it does not cause discomfort to the child.

How to use "Arilis":

1. The skin in the navel area is degreased with lotion.
2. The protective film is removed from each half of the patch.
3. Elements are glued at a distance of 4-5 cm from the navel.
4. The free edge of one element is threaded into the eye of the other.
5. The plates are tightening.
6. Free edges are well glued and smoothed.

The Porofix patch is used to reduce the protrusion of the umbilical ring in newborns and children under one year old. This product is specially designed for baby's delicate skin. "Porofix" is suitable not only for protrusion of the umbilical ring, but also for correcting the shape of the navel in newborn girls and boys. It is fixed similarly to the Arilis patch. A distinctive feature of "Porofix" will be special care for the skin of newborns and infants.

The patch " Chicco " is used more for the prevention of hernia in newborns, when there is a predisposition and problems with the digestive tract.

Mode of application

How to properly apply the patch and seal the baby's navel:

• fixation is carried out only after the navel has healed in the absence of inflammation and suppuration of the wound;
• a strangulated hernia will be a contraindication to the use of a patch and any other methods, because in this case only surgical treatment is indicated;
• the first time the plaster should be glued by a doctor, who will show how to do it correctly;
• before sealing the navel, it is necessary to set the hernia so that it does not stick out;
• there should be no wrinkles on the stomach;
• you need to glue the adhesive plaster only on a dry stomach, otherwise irritation and inflammation of the skin will occur.

When applying a medical patch, it is important to remember about other preventive measures that will improve the child's well-being and help prevent complications.

We are talking about therapeutic exercises, diet, elimination of digestive problems. For young children with a hernia of the umbilical ring, as with protrusion in adults, therapeutic and prophylactic massage is well suited, which can be performed daily. You can do it to a child without removing the umbilical patch, but it can interfere with certain movements.

Massage normalizes intestinal peristalsis, which prevents stagnation of feces when the hernia of the intestinal loop is in the bag. An umbilical hernia can be complicated by intestinal obstruction, and in this case, the use of an adhesive plaster is contraindicated, as in the event of other complications.

Umbilical patches for adults are almost never used, but they can be prescribed when there is a small formation, and the bandage is contraindicated for certain reasons.