Advances in pediatric surgery

Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons (대한소아외과학회)
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Contralateral Incidence of Pediatric Inguinal Hernia and Hydrocele after Unilateral Operation

소아 서혜부 탈장과 음낭수종에서 예방적 반대측 수술의 필요성에 대한 연구

  • Han, Young-Jin (Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center) ;
  • Nam, So-Hyun (Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Dae-Yeon (Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Seong-Chul (Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, In-Koo (Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center)
  • 한영진 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 외과학교실) ;
  • 남소현 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 외과학교실) ;
  • 김대연 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 외과학교실) ;
  • 김성철 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 외과학교실) ;
  • 김인구 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 외과학교실)
  • Received : 20070931
  • Accepted : 2008.01.10
  • Published : 2008.06.30
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Abstract

Prophylactic contralateral exploration in unilateral inguinal hernia repair is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to analyze the contralateral incidence of hernia and to verify the necessity of the simultaneous contralateral exploration. Infants and children operated on for inguinal hernia or hydrocele at the Department of Pediatric Surgery of Asan Medical Center from January 1996 to December 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 383 patients (9.8 %) out of 3,925 patients underwent a simultaneous bilateral operation. A total of 222 patients (6.2 %) out of 3,542 patients underwent a secondary metachronous contralateral operation after primary unilateral inguinal hernia or hydrocele repair. Because simultaneous bilateral operation cases included true bilateral inguinal hernia or hydrocele, and unilateral hernia and simultaneous contralateral exploration, bilateral incidence of inguinal hernia and hydrocele could be maximally considered as 15.4% (605 patients). Therefore, the prophylactic contralateral exploration in unilateral inguinal hernia or hydrocele should be determined carefully in considering history and physical examination of the patients, and postoperative complications.

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