ROLE OF LAPAROSCOPY IN TREATING PEDIATRIC INGUINAL HERNIA AND HYDROCELE – ITS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

Abstract

Aims: Settings: To study role of Laparoscopy in treating Pediatric Inguinal Hernia and Hydrocele. Department of Surgery, Government Medical College Srinagar. A prospective observational study involving 43 children who underwent la Materials and Methods: paroscopic repair of inguinal hernia / hydrocele over a period of 2 years in our tertiary care institute. T Results: here were 57 children enrolled but only 43 patients were included for the study. Age ranged from 7 month to 12 years. There were 38 boys and 5 girls in the study group. There were 32 unilateral and 11 bilateral cases. Among unilateral 26 were on the right side and 6 on the left side. 54 hernia / hydrocele / open DIR were treated laparoscopically. IPSI for unilateral, SEAL for bilateral cases among boys and LIHIL technique was performed in girls. There were no signicant differences among various techniques performed with respect to hospital stay, post operative analgesia requirement but difference was signicant for higher complication rates in SEAL. Also the difference was found to be signicant when compared unilateral versus bilateral cases for operative time and post operative return to activity. Absorbable suture material was used in all cases and there were no recurrences seen during a mean follow up period of 16.5 months. Laparoscopic treatment of pediatric inguinal hernia/hydrocele/Open DIR i Conclusions: s a safe and effective approach. We found a very low rate of complications which were all minor in nature and were managed conservatively. There were no recurrences thus making laparoscopic herniotomy a potentially gold standard approach in the near future but the ideal/gold standard laparoscopic technique for pediatric inguinal hernia appears yet to be achieved.