title: Long-term outcome of children with patent processus vaginalis incidentally diagnosed by laparoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patent processus vaginalis (PPV) might be incidentally diagnosed during laparoscopy. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and the natural history of PPV, i.e. its possible development into symptomatic inguinal hernia.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  children <16years undergoing laparoscopy for pathologies other than processus vaginalis (PV) related, from 10/2000-10/2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  past or present history of PV-related pathologies. The internal inguinal rings were documented during laparoscopy. Follow-up was provided by phone inquiry and clinical examination if needed. Median follow-up was 10.5years (range 7.1-12.8).
  
  
  RESULTS
  416 patients were included. Median age at laparoscopy was 12.4years (range 3days-18.1years). Forty-three PPV (33 unilateral, 5 bilateral) were found in 38 patients (9.1%). Four children with PPV presented later with an ipsilateral inguinal hernia (10.5%, 95%CI [3%; 25%]), at a median age of 16.0years (range 11.8-17.3), at a median of 22.5months (range 12-50) after initial laparoscopy, as compared to no patient in the population with obliterated PV (0%, 95%CI [0%; 1%]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  9.1% of the observed pediatric population showed an asymptomatic PPV, and 10.5% of these children later developed an inguinal hernia. None of the children with obliterated PV developed a hernia.
authors.affiliation: University Center of Pediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Centeno-Wolf
authors.affiliation: University Center of Pediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mircea
authors.affiliation: University Center of Pediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: University Center of Pediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Genin
authors.affiliation: University Center of Pediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lironi
authors.affiliation: University Center of Pediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chardot
authors.affiliation: University Center of Pediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birraux
authors.affiliation: University Center of Pediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: barbara.wildhaber@hcuge.ch.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Wildhaber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007264:Inguinal Canal; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000196:embryology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Children; Inguinal hernia; Laparoscopy; Patent processus vaginalis