title: Inguinal hernias in men undergoing open radical retropubic prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of inguinal hernias in men undergoing open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The incidence of preoperative and postprostatectomy inguinal hernias were determined by a retrospective chart review and questionnaire survey of 1130 consecutive men who underwent open RRP by a single surgeon from October 2000 to October 2005. A preoperative inguinal hernia was diagnosed by the physical examination or abdominal computed tomography findings. The incidence of new postoperative hernias was ascertained by the patients' responses to a survey indicating the development of a new groin bulge or hernia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1130 patients, 146 (13%) had a preoperative inguinal hernia. Increasing age and lower body mass index were significantly associated with the detection of a preoperative inguinal hernia. The sensitivity of detecting an inguinal hernia by physical examination and routine abdominal computed tomography preoperatively was 96.3% and 42.5%, respectively. Also, 8% of men developed a new hernia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although abdominal computed tomography can identify inguinal hernias in men undergoing open RRP, the test's sensitivity is inferior to that of a simple physical examination. All candidates for open RRP should undergo a careful physical examination to identify asymptomatic inguinal hernias. Our findings suggest that the previously reported high incidence of symptomatic inguinal hernias that developed after open RRP can be explained by a failure to diagnose preexisting inguinal hernias and the development of new hernias.
authors: Department of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA. Herbert.lepor@med.nyu.edu
authors: Herbert
authors: H
authors: Lepor
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Robbins
mesh_terms: D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011468:Prostatectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies