[Laparoscopy can be used when treating atypical femoral hernias in children].

Direct and femoral hernias in children are a diagnostic challenge. They are often presumed to be recurrent hernias after open exploration for indirect inguinal hernia. We present three children, who underwent laparoscopic inguinal herniotomy. Two patients had a direct hernia, and one patient had a femoral hernia. All three had previously undergone negative open exploration. We argue that negative open exploration should be followed by diagnostic laparoscopy and herniotomy in the same procedure and that inguinal herniotomy in children should be performed in departments with expertise in laparoscopy.