Laparoscopic treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia in children

The authors report their experience with the laparoscopic treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia in children. Between April 1993 and January 1998, 225 boys aged 8 months to 14 years (mean 4.4 years) were treated laparoscopically for a hydrocele, spermatic-cord cyst, or hernia. Ten boys had recurrent inguinal hernias after conventional surgery, in one case bilateral. The technique requires 3 trocars: a 0 degrees, 5-mm telescope inserted through the umbilicus and two 3-mm trocars placed 3-4 cm below the umbilicus on either side. Simple patency of the peritoneal vaginal duct (dpv) was found in eight cases and a direct inguinal hernia in three. In cases with an open dpv, we opened the external hemicircumference of the heck in order to bring the conjoined tendon closer to the crural arch with a non-resorbable 4/0 suture, and then placed a 3/0 resorbable pursestring suture around the peritoneum of the internal orifice of the inguinal canal. In direct inguinal hernias the orifice was closed by placing 2-3 nonabsorbable 3/0 sutures between the two muscular sides of the hernial defect. There were no intra- or postsurgical complications. All patients, at a maximum follow-up of 3 years showed total recovery from the hernia. Our early results suggest that laparoscopic surgery is a feasible and safe technique for the treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia in children.