Inguinal hernia in very low birthweight children: a continuing risk to age 8 years.
The prevalence of inguinal hernia repair up to 8 years of age was determined in 205 inborn children of birthweight less than 1500 g who had survived to the age of 8 years; 37 (18.0%) of the children required surgery for inguinal hernia, significantly more frequently for boys than girls (32.0% and 3.9% respectively). The cumulative percentage of inguinal hernia operations in boys was 8.7% during primary hospitalization, 20.4% by 2 years, 30.1% by 5 years and 32.0% by 8 years; 36.4% (12 of 33) hernias in boys occurred beyond 2 years of age. The risk of hernia in boys was only marginally higher in those who required assisted ventilation and in those of birthweight less than 1000 g. Very low birthweight infants, particularly boys, are at risk of developing an inguinal hernia not only in infancy but also to at least 8 years of age.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
W H
WH
Kitchen
L W
LW
Doyle
G W
GW
Ford
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors