Laparoscopic Contralateral Inguinal Hernia Exploration in Infants and Children

ABSTRACT

Contralateral groin exploration for infant hernia is controversial. There is a wide range of reported incidence of contralateral groin hernia. This has led some surgeons not to perform routine groin exploration because of the risk of injury to cord structures, and other surgeons to perform routine groin exploration to reduce the risk of metachronous hernia. The advent of laparoscopic techniques for contralateral hernia exploration gives the surgeon the option of groin exploration with minimal risk of morbidity. Laparoscopic contralateral hernia exploration is safe and accurate. A review of the literature reveals several methods of laparoscopic contralateral hernia repair. The authors prefer the in-line method of laparoscopic contralateral hernia exploration because it allows easy visualization of the internal ring and measurement of the patent processus vaginalis. Using this technique, the authors found a 21% incidence of patent processus vaginalis.