Clinical application of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in children

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of laparoscopic surgery in the pediatric inguinal hernia.Methods:A retrospective review was performed on prospectively collected data of laparoscopic pediatric inguinal hernia repair in 136 children since Nov.2010.Results:All patients were treated successfully.Operation time was 15-42 min(average,26 min).Contralateral internal ring was not closed in 23 patients(16.9%).All these occult hernias were treated with clinically diagnosed hernia at the same surgery with excellent results and no post-operative morbidity.All patients were discharged 1-2 days after surgery.No recurrence was found during 8-month follow-up in 134 patients.Conclusions:Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in children is associated with smaller incision,less trauma,less pain,quicker recovery,shorter operative time and hospital stay.Laparoscopic repair allows diagnosis of unsuspected groin and pelvic hernias which can also be repaired during surgery.