• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.131-135
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• 2004

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of diagnostic sonography in pediatric patients with inguinal hernias. The patients were classified into two groups. Group A included the patients who had been operated upon for inguinal hernia in 1980's, when diagnostic sonography was not available. Group B included the patients, operated upon for inguinal hernia from 2001 to 2002, when inguinal sonography was employed to detect potential bilateral hernias. The age distribution, sex ratio, laterality, bilaterality, and concomitant symptoms were compared between group A and group B. There were 296 cases in group A and 377 cases in group B. The prevalent age group was from 1 to 5 years. There was no difference in age group distribution between both groups. The male to female ratio was 5.3:1 in group A and 3.5:1 in group B. The ratio of unilateral to bilateral hernia was 5:1 in group A and 3:1 in group B. In cases with a unilateral hernia, the ratio of right to left was 1.5:1 in group A and 1.8:1 in group B. In cases with bilateral hernia, the simultaneous bilateral hernia was 33 cases (67.4 %) in group A and 75 cases (80.6 %) in group B. The sequential bilateral hernia was 16 cases (32.7 %) in group A and 18 cases (19.4 %) in group B. Although the ratio of bilateral hernia was increased in group B, the portion of the sequential bilateral hernia was significantly decreased in group B. In conclusion, there were no differences in the age distribution and the laterality between group A and B. The ratio of female patients and the incidence of bilateral hernia were increased in group B even though the portion of the sequential bilateral hernia was decreased. This result shows that the preoperative inguinal sonography in unilateral hernia with potential bilateral hernia is useful in early detection of the sequential contralateral hernia.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2002

Between March 1999 and January 2000, 82 boys with the diagnosis of inguinal hernias (12 bilateral and 70 unilateral hernias), underwent Ultrasound (US) examination of both sides of the groin, a total of 164 inguinal imaging prior to surgery. The patients ages ranged from 3 days to 12 years with a mean of 32.6 months. Ninty four examinations were on the clinically symptomatic side and 70 were on the asymptomatic side. The US criteria for the diagnosis of an inguinal hernia were as follows: 1) visceral hernia, the presence of bowel loops, or omentum in the inguinal canal, 2) communicating hydrocele, the presence of fluid in the processus vaginalis, 3) widening of patent processus vaginalis at the level of internal inguinal ring. The width of patent processus vaginalis at the level of internal inguinal ring over 4 mm is considered an occult hernia. Among the 94 symptomatic groins, US findings showed 31 (33%) visceral hernias, 18 (19%) communicating hydroceles, and 38 (41%) widening of the internal inguinal ring, and 7 (7%) groins without abnormalities. In 70 asymptomatic groins, there were 4 (6%) visceral hernias, 5 (7%) communicating hydroceles, 11 (16%) widening of the internal inguinal ring, and 50 (70%) groins without abnormalities. Among the 70 asymptomatic groins there were US abnormalities in 20 (28%). One hundred and seven groins with positive US findings were surgically explored. Among 107 operated sites, the operative findings were compatible with the US diagnosis in 104, a sensitivity for US of 97.2%. In patients with US findings of widening of internal inguinal ring (>4 mm), there was patent processus vaginalis in 36 out of 38 symptomatic groins and 10 of 11 asymptomatic groins. The sensitivity of US to the operative findings in widening of internal inguinal ring was 93.8%. For visceral hernia and communicating hydrocele, the sensitivity of positive US findings was 100%. Ultrasonography for inguinal hernias appears to be a rapid, reliable, and noninvasive screening diagnostic tool with high positive specificity. Therefore, we recommend the use of US as a routine diagnostic tool in pediatric patients with inguinal hernias and hydroceles.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2013

전복막지방 탈출로 인한 합병증은 소아에서 매우 드물며 서혜부 탈장과의 감별이 어렵다. 저자들은 술 전 초음파에서 대망 지방을 포함하고 있는 서혜부 탈장으로 진단된 5세 남아의 수술 중 출혈이 합병된 전복막지방탈출증을 경험하였기에 보고하는 바이다.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.588-592
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• 2018

Harvesting grafts from the anterior iliac bone has been associated with various complications. A 50-year-old woman presented to our department with a chief complaint of right inguinal swelling and pain. Autologous bone grafts had been harvested on two previous occasions from the right anterior iliac crest for use in the reconstruction of multiple facial fractures. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a full-thickness bone defect in the right anterior iliac crest. A mass was noted in the right gluteus minimus, while a multilocular cystic mass extended from the right iliac crest defect to the right inguinal region. Both the inguinal mass and gluteal mass were removed under general anesthesia. Following histopathological analysis, the gluteal mass was diagnosed as a venous malformation (VM). Based on the patient's clinical course, iliac bone graft harvesting and trauma to the gluteal region triggered hemorrhaging from the VM. Blood components leaked out from the fragile portion of the iliac bone defect, forming a cystic lesion that developed into the inguinal mass. In this case, a coincidental VM resulted in a rare complication of iliac bone graft harvesting. These sequelae could have been avoided by planning for more appropriate ways to collect the grafts.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.847-849
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• 2010

Purpose: Traditional radical surgery for vulvar cancer produces severe skin and soft tissue defects in the vulvar and vaginal area. Vulvoperineal V-Y advancement fasciocutaneous flaps have limitations in advancement and tension at the wound margin and vaginal orifice area, causing wound disruption or vaginal wall exposure. Therefore, we designed the "Butterfly flap" using a vulvoperineal V-Y advancement fasciocutaneous flap and an inguinal rotational skin flap for 3-dimensional reconstruction of vagina and vulvar area. Methods: A 27 year-old female was diagnosed with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Radical vulvectomy and full-thickness-skin-graft was performed. We designed a vulvoperineal V-Y advancement fasciocutaneous flap as the greater wing and inguinal rotational skin as the lesser wing. After flap elevation, the inguinal flap was rotated $180^{\circ}$ to reconstruct the labia major and vaginal orifice. The perineum was reconstructed using V-Y advancement flaps. Results: The flap survived completely, without any complications. After 6 months, the patient was able to perform normal sexual activities and after 18 months, the patient was able to give birth to normal child by caesarean section. Conclusion: The traditional vulvoperineal V-Y advancement fasciocutaneous flap is thin, reliable, easily elevated and matches local skin quality. However, the vaginal wall becomes exposed due to limited advancement and tension of the flap. The "Butterfly flap" using a vulvoperineal V-Y advancement fasciocutaneous flap and an inguinal rotational skin flap is useful for the release of vaginal orifice contracture, reconstruction of the labia major, and 3-dimensional reconstruction of vagina and vulvar area.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Recent advances in neonatal management have resulted in a dramatic increase in survival of very low birth weight infants. These critically ill infants, however, continue to pose significant challenges in management and ethics. There is little information on the outcome of the micropremie (birth weight less than 800 g) that require surgery. The records of 171 micropremies treated over a 15 year period (beginning in 1989) at Asan Medical Center was reviewed retrospectively. Forty-one (24.0 %) infants required surgical interventions by pediatric surgeons. There were 90 boys and 81 girls. The smallest infant, weighed 396g at birth, had esophageal atresia and died before surgery. The smallest survivor, birth weight 645 g, received anenterostomy for necrotizing enterocolitis at the weight of 590 g. The gestational age of the group rangedfrom 21 to 36 weeks. The most common surgical problem was inguinal hernia. There were 20 inguinal hernias, and repairs were performed on17 infants. Excluding 2 cases, hernia repair was performed at the time of discharge. There was only one recurrence of adirect inguinal hernia. Necrotizing enterocolitis developed in 17 patients, 11 were operated upon, two had peritoneal drainages, and 9 had enterostomies. Five of 11 surgical infants died after operation and three of the nonsurgical infants died of various complications. Although micropremies have potentially high risks of serious complications and death, the outcome can improve with careful surgical observation and judgment.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2014

The present study compared the postoperative analgesic effects of ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block with infiltration of local anesthetics (bupivacaine) into the wound in children after inguinal hernia repair. Ninety children below 7 years old who were scheduled elective inguinal hernia repair were randomly allocated into one of three groups. The patients in nerve block (NB) group, ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block was done with 0.5 mL/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine. The patients in infiltration of local anesthetics (LI) group, 0.5 mL/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine was infiltrated into the wound after surgery. The patients in control group were allocated as a Control group. Postoperative pain was assessed at 1, 3, 5, and 24 hours after operation with FLACC scale and additional analgesic consumption were counted. The three groups were not significantly different in age, sex, body weight, and duration of operation. Pain scores at 1 hour and 3 hours after operation were significantly higher in Control group than in NB group and LI group (p<0.01), whereas there were no difference between NB group and LI group. The rescue analgesics administration was significantly higher in Control group (n=11) than in NB group (n=6) and LI group (n=7) (p<0.05). There were 2 cases of transient femoral nerve palsy in NB group. Both of ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block and infiltration of local anesthetics into the wound provided effective postoperative analgesia in early postoperative period following inguinal hernia repair in children. But no difference between the two methods. Technically, infiltration of local anesthetics into the wound was easier and safer than ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.23-27
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• 2014

Purpose: Laparoscopic hernia repair in children is still controversial. The aim of this study was to report our long-term results of the laparoscopic hernia technique, which is based on the same surgical principles as conventional open herniotomy. Methods: Five hundred fourteen pediatric patients with inguinal hernia were included in this study under informed consent. All patients underwent a laparoscopic technique of sac transection and intracorporeal ligation. The asymptomatic contralateral inguinal ring was routinely explored and repaired if a patient had patent processus vaginalis on the contralateral side. Patients were prospectively followed for 5 years. Those who were lost to follow-up were excluded from the study. Perioperative complications and recurrences were evaluated. Results: The mean follow-up period was 29 months. Mean operation time was 27.5 minutes. Forty one percent of the patients had contralateral patent processus vaginalis. Only one hernia recurred (0.19%). We had one case of contralateral metachronous hernia (0.21%) during follow-up period. Conclusion: The long-term follow-up results of our study revealed that laparoscopic hernia sac transection and ligation can be a safe and effective alternative for conventional herniorraphy.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.138-162
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate small area variation in rates of three common surgeries in general surgery department across 156 small areas. Three surgery rates were analyzed; Anal and/or stomal procedures, inguinal and/or femoral hernia procedures, appendectomy. Methods: We used health insurance claims data and the number of patients were 13,845, 2,154 and 7,151 persons respectively. Surgery rates were directly standardized with age and sex and logistic regression was used to analyze surgery rates. Results: Mapping of the surgery rates, there was small area variation in anal and/or stomal procedures. The clinic which was located in more competitive market and chose DRG payment system tends to do more anal and/or stomal procedures. There was no factor except DRG bed rates had effect on rate of inguinal and/or femoral hernia procedures. Conclusions: Findings of this study will contribute to developing investigation method on small area variation and policy to reduce the variation such as developing evidence based medical practice guideline.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2006

Testicular feminization syndrome (TFS) is a genetic disorder due to androgen insensitivity of the target organs. The most common clinical presentation of complete TFS is inguinal hernia in the infant or primary amenorrhea in the adolescence. A 7-year old phenotypically female patient was seen with a complaint of a right inguinal mass. Under the diagnosis of right inguinal hernia, high ligation was performed. Six months later, the patient showed a left inguinal mass. On operation, the mass looked like a testis. The external genitalia were normal female, but a uterus and ovary were not identified. Chromosome study showed a 46, XY karyotype and the levels of serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were increased after HCG stimulation. The patient was diagnosed as complete TFS and underwent bilateral gonadectomy 6 months later.