Leaking Umbilical Hernias in Cirrhotic Patients, Repair or Observe?

Cirrhotic patients with leaking UHs should undergo urgent repair. Non-operative management confers high risk of continued or increased ascitic leakage necessitating more emergent surgery. Despite high rate of post-operative complications related to cirrhosis, there is a clear mortality benefit to the repair of leaking UHs in cirrhotic patients.