Published in:
01-04-2016 | Original Article
Incidence of contralateral patent processus vaginalis in relation to age at laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure for pediatric inguinal hernia
Published in: Surgery Today | Issue 4/2016
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Introduction
Laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) allows the surgeon to look for contralateral patent processus vaginalis (CPPV) directly. We investigated the incidence of CPPV in relation to age at LPEC.
Methods
Following Institutional Review Board approval, 1232 patients ranging in age from 2 months old to 15 years old (median 4.7 years), who underwent LPEC, were investigated retrospectively. Patients were divided into five groups based on their age at surgery: younger than 1, 1–2, 2–4, 4–6 years, and older than 6 years. The incidence of CPPV being detected by preoperative ultrasonography or laparoscopy was compared among these groups. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square test or Cochran–Armitage trend test, and p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results
The incidence of CPPV detected by ultrasonography decreased as the age increased (p < 0.0001), whereas the incidence of CPPV newly revealed by laparoscopy increased as age increased (p = 0.0001). There were no significant differences in the incidence of CPPV in patients with unilateral hernia among the five age groups (p = 0.74).
Conclusions
These results showed that the incidence of CPPV in patients with unilateral inguinal hernia did not change in relation to their age.