title: Inguinal hernias: should we repair?
abstract: This review examines available data concerning the natural history of treated and untreated inguinal hernias. The incidence of complications with either treatment strategy is discussed using historical information from a time before herniorrhaphy became routine and contemporary data from two recently completed randomized controlled trials comparing routine repair using a tension-free technique with watchful waiting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE 68131, USA.
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turaga
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fitzgibbons
authors.forename: Varun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Puri
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*