Inguinal hernias in premature babies: wait or operate?

Abstract

There are several contentious issues in the management of inguinal hernias in premature neonates. They include the timing of surgery, the management of incarceration, the role of routine contralateral groin exploration and the type of anaesthesia. In this article we re-emphasize the importance of delaying surgery until the baby is ready for discharge from the neonatal unit. Regular examinations and manual reduction of these hernias should be performed in order to detect incarcerations early.

Conclusion: With this approach, it may be possible to minimize the morbidity resulting from incarceration, and at the same time avoid the respiratory and testicular complications resulting from an early surgical/anaesthetic intervention.