Laparoscopic diagnosis of contralateral patent processus vaginalis in children under 1 year of age with unilateral inguinal hernia: Comparison with herniography

• Published in: Journal of pediatric surgery Vol. 34; no. 8; pp. 1213 - 1215
• Main Authors: Van Glabeke, Emmanuel, Khairouni, Abdeslam, Gall, Olivier, Le Pointe, Hubert Ducou, Jaby, Olivier, Larroquet, Michèle, Kotobi, Henri, Chevet, Jean-Baptiste, Audry, Georges, Gruner, Max
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Elsevier Inc 01-08-1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abdomen; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Hernia, Inguinal - diagnosis; Hernia, Inguinal - diagnostic imaging; Hernia, Inguinal - surgery; Humans; Infant; Laparoscopy; Male; Medical sciences; Predictive Value of Tests; Radiography; Sensitivity and Specificity; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; herniography; Laparoscopy; inguinal hernia; Human; Infant; Inguinal; Hernia; Treatment; Contralateral; Abdominal disease; Surgery; Unilateral; Herniography; Endoscopy; Technique
• ISSN: 0022-3468; 1531-5037
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3468(99)90154-9

Purpose:
The effectiveness of laparoscopic diagnosis of contralateral patent processus vaginalis (CPPV) in children with unilateral inguinal hernia was evaluated.
Methods:
Ninety-three consecutive children under the age of 1 year were operated on for a unilateral inguinal hernia. A contralateral CPPV was diagnosed by laparoscopy via the inguinal hernia sac before ligation. The laparoscopy results of this technique were correlated with those of herniography or inguinal exploration.
Results:
Laparoscopy was performed on 88 patients; sensitivity was 71% and specificity 89%. The only complication arising from the procedure was wound infection in two patients.
Conclusion:
This method is a simple, safe, and accurate procedure for selecting children for contralateral surgical exploration.