Ruptured umbilical hernia in a case of alcoholic cirrhosis with massive ascites.

Umbilical hernias are common in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and ascites. However, spontaneous rupture of the hernia is not frequently seen. This is a serious complication and carries a high mortality. A search of the literature shows that patients have been managed both operatively and nonoperatively for this condition. We present a case of spontaneous rupture of an umbilical hernia in a patient with cirrhosis and ascites which was managed successfully with hernia repair.