Prospective randomized controlled study of excision versus distal splitting of hernial sac and processus vaginalis in the repair of inguinal hernias and communicating hydroceles.

A total of 798 pediatric patients between the ages of 16 days and 10 years underwent a randomized trial of two surgical procedures to assess the superiority of one over the other. In the first group of 231 patients, 236 hernial sacs (HS)/processus vaginalis (PV) were excised completely after transfixation and transection of the sac at the internal ring, whereas in the second group of 567 patients, 595 residual HS/PV were not excised but split longitudinally. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the two groups as far as complications were concerned. Considering the results of these two procedures, it could be concluded that even the less extensive process of distal longitudinal splitting of the residual HS or PV can be preferred in the repair of hernias or communicating hydroceles in male children.