Gender-related differences of inguinal hernia and asymptomatic patent processus vaginalis in term and preterm infants.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to analyze the gender-related differences of inguinal hernia (IH) and patent processus vaginalis (PPV) in term and preterm infants.


METHODS
Over a nine-year-period 411 infants underwent laparoscopic herniorrhaphy within the first six months of life. 246 term (191 male; 55 female) and 165 preterm (118 male; 47 female) infants were included in this retrospective study. Initial presentation of IH and intraoperative anatomical findings of PPV were reviewed.


RESULTS
We found that term boys (58.6%) and girls (58.2%) predominantly presented with right-sided IH whereas preterm boys (36.4%) and girls (44.7%) mostly presented with bilateral IH. Female babies had a higher incidence of initial left-sided IH. Term and preterm girls with initial left-sided hernia were found to have highest incidence of PPV. Male term babies with initial left-sided IH were found to have the lowest incidence of PPV (25.0%). The highest incidence of PPV in male was found in preterm boys with either left- or right-sided IH.


CONCLUSIONS
Incidence and laterality of IH and PPV differ between term and preterm girls and boys. In open hernia repair decision concerning contralateral groin exploration should consider term/preterm birth as well as gender.
Department of General and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany. Electronic address: burgmeierch@yahoo.de.
Christine
C
Burgmeier
Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Germany.
Jens
J
Dreyhaupt
Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany.
Felix
F
Schier
D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
Gender; Inguinal hernia; Patent processus vaginalis; Preterm infant; Term infant