It may contain omental fat, or loops of large and small intestine Umbilical hernias usually occur in newborn babies.
[4][5] Epigastric hernias may contain fat, blood vessels, and abdominal organs (intestine).
[7] A large paraumbilical hernia may cause a "dragging pain" because of its weight.
[7] Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., pain, vomiting) may occur, and are the result of traction on the small intestines, stomach, transverse colon and omentum.
Paraumbilical hernias are caused by a defect in the linea alba next to the umbilicus.
[4] The linea alba is a fibrous connection in the midline between the left and right rectus abdominis muscles.
The defect may be called diastasis recti which is an increased gap between the right and left rectus abdominis muscles.
In larger hernias, the sac may contain loops of small or large intestine.
[4] An adhesion is a a band of fibrotic tissue that occurs between two previously unconnected structures in response to injury.
[3] The risk of dehiscence, infection, and recurrence is higher with open repair compared to laparoscopic surgery.
[3] People also recover more quickly, have less pain and spend less days in hospital after laparoscopic surgery.
[3] The rate of recurrence may be lower with laparoscopic approach because the hernia repair is done without tension, with generous overlap of mesh, and other defects around the original hernia can be identified and repaired at the same time.
[3] This is the later occurrence of a new hernia at the site where the port was inserted, because a weakness is created in the abdominal wall.