title: Needlescopic inguinal hernia repair in children.
abstract: The object of the present study was to assess the value and outcome of needlescopy in the treatment of inguinal hernia (IH) in 150 children operated upon in Al-Mishary Hospital, Riyadh, between October 1997 and October 1999. Their ages ranged between 6 and 96 months, (mean 61.6 +/- 28.32 months). There were 130 males and 20 females; 81 (54%) presented with a right-sided IH and among these patients a hidden contralateral hernia was diagnosed in 12 cases (8%). A left-sided IH was present in 30 (20%) bilateral IHs in 19 cases (12.66%), a recurrent hernia in 15 (10%), and an incarcerated hernia in 5 (3.33%). All patients were subjected to needlescopic herniotomy using a 2.7-mm telescope and two 2-mm needle holders to close the internal ring with a 4/0 PDS suture. The mean duration of surgery was 20.6 +/- 4.65 min for unilateral and 26.4 +/- 1.6 min for bilateral hernia repair. The mean hospital stay was 18 +/- 3.23 h. The study showed that laparoscopic closure of the internal ring in children is feasible, easy, and preferable to open surgery. The fact that laparoscopy can diagnose a hidden contralateral hernia is an additional advantage.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Department, Al-Azhar and Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rafik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shalaby
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desoky
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome