Umbilical Hernia Repair

n contrast to the vital role played by the umbilicus inutero, it has minimal physiologic importance afterbirth. It can be used as a convenient site for vascularaccess in newborns; neonatologists use umbilical arterialandumbilicalvenouscathetersfrequently.Theumbilicuscan be a portal for infection in newborns (omphalitis).Theumbilicusisfrequentlyusedasanentrysiteforlapa-roscopic procedures. Its psychological importancethroughout life has been observed in individuals whohave had surgical loss of their umbilicus.