ABSTRACT
The pediatric inguinal hernia is the commonest defect the surgeon performs surgery on and is usually indirect. It is believed that these hernias rarely go away, and therefore, virtually all should be repaired. Much has been written about this condition, but the controversy on different aspects of it still exists. This article aims to address the controversies and decision making in pediatric inguinal hernias.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Decision Making , Female , Hernia, Inguinal/diagnosis , Humans , Infant , Male , Pediatrics , Recurrence , Risk Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Cryptorchidism, or undescended testis, is the most common genital anomaly identified at birth in males that continues to challenge the pediatric specialist. The last two decades have seen rapid improvements in understanding the complex mechanisms underlying the genesis of cryptorchidism. Yet, despite years of study, answers to questions relating to controversies surrounding undescended testes remain elusive. This article presents an overview of the controversies and current understanding of this challenging problem.