title: Complications of inguinal hernia surgery in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the postoperative complications of elective inguinal hernia surgery in children
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical Unit B, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, from February 2004 to November 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with inguinal hernia, admitted electively through surgical outpatient, were included. Patients operated earlier and presenting with complications were excluded. Patients with concomitant diseases, regarded as predisposing factors for hernia development, were also excluded. Physical examination and relevant investigations (hemoglobin level and ultrasound of scrotum) were performed. Inguinal hernia was repaired electively by Rehbein procedure. Patients were followed at day 7, 1 month, 3 months and 9 months to note the postoperative complications of the surgery. Ultrasound was repeated at 6 and 9 months postoperatively for the size of testes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 223 patients with inguinal hernia were included in the study. Age ranged from 8 days to 12 years. There were 188 males with 75 patients under 1 year of age. The longest follow-up was upto 9 months in 133 patients. The complications of scrotal edema occurred in 6 (2.97%), haematoma in 1(0.49%), wound infection in 2 (0.99%) and 5 events of recurrence of hernia in 4 patients. All appeared within 3 months of follow-up. Four recurrent hernia were operated. In all cases intact sac was found. No patient developed decrease in size of testes nor ascent of testes was noted at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  in this series, there were minimal complications observed in relation to inguinal hernia surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi. taqvi@cyber.net.pk
authors.forename: Syed Raees Hussain
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Taqvi
authors.forename: Jamshed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Tayyaba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Batool
authors.forename: Razia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tabassum
authors.forename: Farhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirza
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D014463:Ultrasonography