Clinical Study of Inguinal Hernia in Children

ABSTRACT

A total of 335 inguinal hernias in children were analyzed by the authors at the Department of General Surgery, St. Benedict Hospital, for last 10 years, from 1986 to 1995. The male patients were predominant (2.251), and 78.2% were under 2 years of age. Right side was 1.63 times more frequent than the left. Among the 19 cases of incarcerated hernias, 84% could be reduced preoperatively in safe. Only 3.6% of the cases were repaired by Bassini procedure, but the others didn't require posterior wall reconstruction. Bilaterality was 25 cases (7.5%), and 8 cases (2.4%) developed later contralateral hernias after primary ipsilateral fix. Complications were in 15 cases (4.5%) such as scrotal seroma and/or hematoma (3%), wound infection (0.6%), pneumonia (0.9%). For the more comprehensive care for the herniated children, specialized practice by a pediatric surgeon would be required in the future.