title: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in premature babies weighing 3 kg or less.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety and complication rate of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair for small babies weighing 3 kg or less.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed on the surgical charts of 67 infants (47 boys and 20 girls) weighing 3 kg or less who underwent laparoscopic hernia repair in a 3-year period. A regular 5-mm scope was used for visualization, and 2 or 3-mm instruments were used for the closure of the inner inguinal ring using 3/0 non-absorbable suture. The median weight at surgery was 2,600 g (range 1,450-3,000 g). All except three were premature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 67 infants, 15 (22.3 %) presented with an irreducible hernia. In three cases of irreducible hernias, we also performed a transumbilical appendectomy at the end of the hernia repair. Minor problems related with anesthesia were noted in four cases. Hernia recurrence was observed in three patients (4.4 %). No cases of testicular atrophy occurred. In 10 boys, we observed 12 cases of high testes, only 4 testes requiring subsequent orchiopexy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair for babies weighing 3 kg or less is feasible, safe and perhaps even less technically demanding than open inguinal herniotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, Naples, 80131, Italy. ciroespo@unina.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turial
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escolino
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giurin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alicchio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Enders
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Settimi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schier
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome