[Perioperative diagnostic pneumoperitoneum for unilateral inguinal hernias in children].

Fifty-six pediatric patients (2.5 months-13 years old) presenting with unilateral inguinal hernia underwent intraoperative diagnostic pneumoperitoneum (Goldstein test) to evaluate the controlateral groin. Fourteen patients (25%) had positive results and underwent controlateral hernia repair. The positivity is found more frequent in females (37.5%) and in the left sided hernias (50%). The percentage of positive tests has found to be inversely proportional to the age of the patient which is 33% for children under 6 months of age and 18% over 24 months. It is also observed that none of the children with negative test admitted with the complaint of hernia within two years following the operation. Intraoperative diagnostic pneumoperitoneum is a rapid, safe and accurate means to evaluate the contralateral groin in children presenting with a unilateral inguinal hernia. The test eliminates the high negative exploration rate and possible injury to cord structures with routine bilateral exploration.