Occurrence of contralateral inguinal hernia in children following unilateral inguinal herniotomy.
OBJECTIVE
To review the occurrence of contralateral inguinal hernia in infants and children who presented with unilateral inguinal hernia and underwent herniotomy in order to establish whether simultaneous contralateral exploration is a necessity in our environment.


METHODS
A retrospective study.


METHODS
Muhimbili National Hospital Paediatric surgical ward.


METHODS
Seven hundred and thirty two children.


RESULTS
Twenty five infants and children developed an inguinal hernia on the contralateral side 2-76 months after herniotomy. Follow-up period was one to thirteen years. Six hundred and seventy one were boys and sixty one girls (M:F = 11:1). Right side presentation was seen in two-thirds of the children. Subsequent contralateral hernia occurrence was more common in girls (4.9%) and slightly higher in children above 12 months of age (3.5%) but these comparisons were not significant (p values were 0.45 and 0.89 and R.R. values were 0.97 and 0.67 respectively). Subsequent development of contra lateral hernia in children with left-sided hernia was high (6.7%) and this was statistically significant (p = 0.002, R.R. = 3.38).


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of occurrence of contra-lateral inguinal hernia following unilateral inguinal herniotomy is not significantly excessive when compared by age or sex implying that routine exploration on the contralateral side in infants and children clinically presenting with unilateral inguinal hernia is not justified and we recommend herniotomy only when there is adequate clinical evidence of an inguinal hernia. Despite the significant risk of developing a contralateral hernia in children with left-sided hernia, the authors do not recommend routine right-sided exploration as the frequency is not high.
Carneiro
P M R
PM
Paediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 65451, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Rwanyuma
L
L
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology