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Abstract
Background: Umbilical hernia is a common abdominal wall defect that may be asymptomatic or clinically occult. Ultrasonography provides a non-invasive and dynamic method for detecting and characterizing umbilical hernias, including small defects that may not be apparent on physical examination.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of umbilical hernia among patients undergoing transabdominal ultrasonography and to describe its demographic and sonographic characteristics.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 281 symptomatic and asymptomatic patients undergoing transabdominal ultrasonography at a tertiary-care hospital. Demographic characteristics and sonographic findings, including hernia defect size and sac contents, were recorded. Dynamic assessment was performed where appropriate using coughing and the Valsalva maneuver.
Results: Umbilical hernia was detected in 274 (97.5%) of the 281 participants. Females constituted 74.0% of the study population, while males accounted for 26.0%. The mean age was 35.85 ± 11.81 years. Defects measuring 10–20 mm were most frequent (44.8%), followed by defects >20 mm (44.1%). Mixed hernia sac contents were the most common sonographic finding (40.9%), followed by omentum (30.2%), bowel loops (18.9%), and fluid (10.0%). Among the recorded cases, 109 (38.8%) showed sonographic evidence of bowel blockage.
Conclusion: Umbilical hernia was frequently detected among patients undergoing transabdominal ultrasonography in this tertiary-care setting. Ultrasonography, particularly with dynamic maneuvers, may be useful for detecting and characterizing umbilical hernias and their associated sonographic findings. Further multicenter studies using representative sampling are recommended to establish prevalence in the wider population.