Comparison of the laparoscopic and open surgery for incarcerated inguinal hernia in children

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of incarcerated inguinal hernia in children.Methods From March 2010 to June 2011,111 patients with incarcerated inguinal hernia were admitted to this department and underwent surgery.Among them,56 patients were perfortcd laparoscopic surgery,and the other 55 underwent open surgery via inguinal oblique incision.The perioperative perimeters and short term outcome were retrospectively analyzed to compare the safety and efficacy of the 2 procedures.Results On the 3 of the 56 patients with laparoscopic surgery,laparoscopic surgery was converted to open surgery for failed man ual reduction of hernia after anesthesia.The mean operative time was 31.4 ± 10.2 minutes.The mean postoperative ventilation time was 7.8 ± 2.9 hours.The mean length of hospital stay was 3.3 ± 1.1 days.All patients recovered well without any complications.The surgical incision was healed primarily.Less postoperative swelling of the scrotum or labia was notcd,and no hematoma occurred.No reoccurrence of hernia was observed during 1 to 15 months' follow up.OOf the 55 patients underwent open surgery,the mean operative time was 40.7 ± 11.6 minutes.The mean postoperative ventilation time was 15.3 ± 2.8 hours.The mean length of hospital stay was 5.8 ± 1.4 days.The scar appearance of incision was more obvious on the patients with open surgery.More severe postoperative swelling of the scrotum or labia was also noted,and scrotal hematoma occurred on 7 patients.During 2 to 17 months' follow-up,small incision exudate was noted on 3 patients,wound infection on 1,hernia recurrence on 2,occurrence of contralateral hcrnia on 8.Conclusions laparoscopic surgery is a safe,reliable and effective procedure for the treatment of incarcerated inguiual hcrnia in children. Key words: laparoscopic surgery operation;  Hernia, inguinal