Inguinal hernia in children

ABSTRACT

Two hundred and seventy one cases of inguinal hernias and hydrocoels in children treated at the University Hospital of the West Indies over a five-year period have been reviewed. The dominance of the boys and the right side is borne out. The younger infant has the highest risk of incarceration which is more common in boys and in right-sided hernias. Females with inguinal hernias were screened for testiculaar feminization and none was found. There were three girls with hydeocoels of the Canal of Nuck. The incidence of metachronous presentations of contralateral hernia occurred only in 6.6 percent of cases. When routine explorartion of the contralateral side was undertaken in 5.2 percent of cases, a hernia sac was found only in less than half of them. These findings support the present policy of not routinely exploring the opposite side in unilateral inguinal hernias. Herniotomy was adequate for 92.6 percent of cases. Herniorrhaphy was seen in only one case. One testicular atrophy occurred following incarceration. Eighty-six per cent of these children were managed as day cases. Inpatient management was required when the hernia was complicated or when there were associated other medical conditions. (AU)