Preperitoneal approach for incarcerated inguinal hernia in children.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The authors have been using abdominal extraperitoneal approach for treatment of incarcerated inguinal hernia in children for the last 2 years. The aim of this paper is to report on this experience.

METHODS

Between March 1994 and July 1996, cases of infants and children presenting with incarcerated inguinal hernia were studied. Preperitoneal approach was used in all children who had incarcerated hernia that could not be reduced with gentle manipulation and did not reduce spontaneously under general anesthesia. There were 24 children with a median age of 12 months.

RESULTS

Herniotomy, reduction of contents, and bowel resection were found to be much easier than the inguinal approach. There were no complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Preperiotoneal approach appears to be a safe and easy technique for incarcerated inguinal hernia in children. The authors recommend that it should be used more commonly.