Clinical characteristics of Littre hernia in children / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical features of pedistric Littre hernia.Methods Clinical data of 11 cases of Littre hermia admitted from January 2002 to December 2010 was studied retrospectively.Results The diagnosis of Littre hernia was all established by laparotomy.All of the 11 cases were boys,the median age was 1.2 years (22 days to 3 years and 7 months).The main clinical features were:painful,irregular and nonresetable mass in the groin area (11/11),vomiting in 6 cases (6/11 ),fever (＞38.5 ℃ ) in 4 cases (4/11 );X-ray showed intestinal obstruction in 9 cases (9/11 ),Ultrasound found mixed mass in the groin area in 11 cases ( 11/11 ),pouch-like structure were found in 6 cases (6/11).Eight cases (8/11) presented with elevated WBC ( ＞ 10000).Palpable lobulated structure were fell in 5 cases (5/11).All cases of Littre hernia were successfully operated on,Meckel diverticulum perforation was found in 2 cases ( 2/11 ),Meckel diverticulum adhered to the hernia sac in 8 eases (8/11).All patients were cured by surgery,and postoperative follow-up (10ms-8y) found no recurrence.Conclusions Pediatric Littre hernia is rare,preoperative diagnosis is difficult.Avoiding preoperative violent reduction and intraoperative injuring Meekel's diverticulum or the small bowel helps improve the cure rate of Littre hernia in children.