Epidemiological Overview of Umbilical and Epigastric Hernias in Brazilian Hospital Records

¹Third-year medical student at the Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

²Fourth-year medical student at the Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

³PhD in Medicine and Health from the Bahia School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia; Vascular Surgeon, full member of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery and the Brazilian College of Surgeons, Brazil

*Corresponding Author: Wagner Ramos Borges, PhD in Medicine and Health from the Bahia School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia; Vascular Surgeon, full member of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery and the Brazilian College of Surgeons, Brazil, Phone: 5571992068592, ORCID: 0000-0001-8653-5265, E-mail: [email protected]

Received Date: October 17, 2025

Published Date: October 29, 2025

Citation: Sposito JS, et al. (2025). Epidemiological Overview of Umbilical and Epigastric Hernias in Brazilian Hospital Records. Mathews J Surg. 8(2):40.

Copyrights: Sposito JS, et al. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Umbilical and epigastric hernias are among the most common conditions in general surgery, with significant clinical and economic impact in Brazil. They result from weaknesses in the linea alba, a fibrous structure located in the midline of the abdomen that connects the rectus abdominis muscles. 4 Currently, both open and minimally invasive approaches are used for treatment. The choice between them involves variables such as the size of the hernial defect, the patient's clinical profile, the surgeon's experience, and the infrastructure of the service. Methods: Observational, retrospective study with data from the SIH/SUS (2008–2024) on abdominal wall hernioplasties (ICD-10 K42 and K43). The number of procedures, costs, hospital stay, mortality, and demographic variables were analyzed. Results: A total of 1,444,961 procedures were recorded, with umbilical hernias predominating (77%). There was a 50% drop in volume in 2020, with a recovery to 126,665 surgeries in 2024. Overall mortality was 0.23%, higher in emergencies (0.57%). The average cost was US$ 100.10, with the lowest cost for laparoscopic procedures. The average length of stay was 1.85 days. Conclusion: They are highly prevalent in the SUS. Laparoscopy is cost-effective but still not widely used. The increase in mortality in emergency surgeries reinforces the importance of early and elective management. Investments, equitable access, and modernization of techniques can optimize results.

Keywords: Abdominal Hernia, Hernioplasty, Umbilical Hernia.