title: Umbilical herniorrhaphy in cirrhotic patients.
abstract: During a ten-year period, 92 patients underwent an umbilical herniorrhaphy. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1, cirrhotic patients with ascites with functioning peritoneovenous shunts (n = 15); group 2, cirrhotic patients with ascites with nonfunctioning or no peritoneovenous shunts (n = 24); and group 3, noncirrhotic patients (n = 53). The charts were analyzed for postoperative mortality and morbidity and recurrence of the umbilical hernia. Umbilical hernia in cirrhotic patients with uncontrolled ascites was associated with significant mortality (8.3%) and morbidity (16.6%) and a significantly greater incidence of recurrence (16.6%). Umbilical herniorrhaphy in patients with functioning peritoneovenous shunts was associated with minimal morbidity (7%). These data suggest that cirrhotic patients with ascites who require an umbilical herniorrhaphy preferably should undergo peritoneovenous shunting before repair of the hernia.
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites / Q000150:complications; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012008:Recurrence