Inguinal hernia in children is different from adults;
Inguinal hernia is seen in 1-5% of children. Inguinal hernia, which is 6 times more common in boys than girls, is seen on the right in 60% of patients, on the left in 40%, and on both sides in 10%. Hernias are more common in babies born prematurely or with low birth weight. In unilateral hernias, there is a possibility of hernia in the other groin in the future. This probability is less in boys and more in girls.
Inguinal hernia and hydrocele are very rare in female babies. Girl babies also have an inguinal canal similar to that of boys and may not close. The organ that protrudes is usually the ovary, not the intestine. Mothers often notice the ovary that feels like a nut inside the swelling in the groin.
How to recognize inguinal hernia in children;
Most of the families; They apply to the doctor with the complaint of swelling in the groin area during the child’s crying or straining. Some patients apply with symptoms of hernia suffocation, such as swelling in the groin area, bilious vomiting, and inability to poop.
Diagnosis of inguinal hernia in children;
The diagnosis of inguinal hernia is made by detecting the swelling in the groin. In scrotal type hernia, the swelling goes down to the bag next to the egg.
Treatment of inguinal hernia in children;
Since the cause of inguinal hernia in children is a developmental residue, there is no possibility of spontaneous recovery. Hernia surgery should be planned and performed as soon as possible for the patient diagnosed with a hernia. Inguinal hernia in children differs from adults in terms of formation, type and repair technique. For this reason, it is the gold standard to have your precious child’s surgery performed by a Pediatric Surgeon Specialist at the Pediatric Surgery Clinic. At the same time, inguinal hernia repair is the most common operation performed by pediatric surgeons. 2.5kg. It should be under the supervision of a physician until the most suitable conditions occur in cases such as infection that will prevent surgery. The complication rate during planned hernia repair is also very low.
If inguinal hernia treatment is not performed in children;
However, the most important problem that may occur due to inguinal hernia is suffocation, that is, the organs that come out do not return to the abdomen. The risk of drowning decreases with age. The rate, which is 30% in the first 6 months, decreases to 1% over the age of 8 years. In strangulated hernias, there may be obstruction in the intestinal segment that can be found in the hernia sac. In such cases, bilious vomiting and abdominal distension occur. Emergency surgery is required in cases where strangulation cannot be reduced (hernia contents cannot be pushed in with manual intervention) or if more than 6 hours have passed since strangulation. A “strangulated hernia” is a condition that endanger the life of the child and requires urgent intervention.
In these cases, the complication rate also increases.
Hernia strangulation may cause the tissue vitality to deteriorate in the compressed organ (intestine, testis, ovary in girls) due to impaired blood flow in the testicles as well as the organs in the hernia sac, and may result in the removal of the impaired organ during emergency surgery.
Target in inguinal hernia in children;
By planning and performing the surgery as soon as possible, it is tried to prevent the development of an urgent problem called strangulation of the hernia and endangering the life of the child.
Most of the patients can go home after feeding 3-4 hours after the surgery on the same day and do not need to stay in the hospital.
Pediatric surgeon,
Op. Dr. ZAFER DORTDOĞAN
