Inguinal hernia in infants and children

Abstract

There is no unanimity of opinion concerning advisability of routine bilateral herniorrhaphy. The ultimate answer awaits critical review of complete follow-up studies on large numbers of patients who initially undergo unilateral hernial repair. At present the majority of such studies [4,9,10] and the one reported herein indicate that the incidence of hernia on the unoperated side is low, and consequently suggests that exploration of a clinically normal inguinal canal is unnecessary and, possibly, unwarranted. Ladd [12] and Donovan [11] concur in this opinion. The suggestions of Potts [13] constitute a most rational approach to the problem, although our results and those of Kiesewetter [4] suggest that the side initially affected has little bearing on the eventual appearance of a second hernia.