[Use of mini-laparoscopy in intraoperative diagnosis of contralateral inguinal hernia in children]. / Utilizzo della mini-laparoscopia nella diagnosi intraoperatoria di ernia inguinale controlaterale in età pediatrica.

Laparoscopy has been considered by some Workers an useful means of diagnosing patent processus vaginalis in children. This technique is effective in evaluating patency of contralateral internal inguinal ring and requires only five minutes of additional operative time to elective inguinal herniorrhaphy. The Authors report their experience with fifty-six children to whom this procedure was offered. Their age ranged from three to ten years--mean 6.5 years-. Congenital unilateral hernia was right-sided in eighteen and left-sided in thirty-eight patients. Overall, the contralateral processus vaginalis was patent in 44.6%, with 27.7% and 52.2% patency on the nonclinical right and left sides, respectively. Low abdominal pressure-insufflation with CO2 to a pressure of 4 mmHg and shortened operative time have permitted to avoid endotracheal intubation. We confirm great utility of laparoscopic examination in determining the need for contralateral inguinal exploration in pediatric patients.