Variation in Surgical Management of Asymptomatic Umbilical Hernia at Freestanding Children's Hospitals

Multi-center study reveals 8.9-fold variation in timing of asymptomatic umbilical hernia repair across 38 children's hospitals, with early repair rates (≤3 years) ranging from 7% to 54%. Variation persists after adjusting for patient factors and repair urgency, suggesting many children undergo surgery for hernias that might spontaneously close with observation.