How is a pediatric hernia treated?

  Pediatric inguinal hernia, commonly known as hernia and small bowel gas, is mostly caused by failure of atresia and degeneration of the peritoneal sphincter (or Nuck’s canal), which can develop in the neonatal period and is a congenital disease. The ratio of male to female is 10-15:1, with 2-3 times more on the right side than on the left side. Bilateral cases are rare, accounting for about 5%-10%, and are one of the common diseases in pediatric surgery.  Clinical presentation: Repeatable swelling of the groin and/or scrotum.  Age of surgery: 6 months-3 years old is preferable. Methods: 1. Traditional surgery: 3 cm transverse or oblique incision is made in the groin, the inguinal region is dissected, the external ring opening and the extra-abdominal oblique tendon membrane are opened, and a high ligation of the hernia sac is performed. The surgery is traumatic, with significant postoperative pain and slow recovery …… 2. Minimally invasive surgery: ① Small incision surgery in the lower abdomen: Because the inguinal canal is very short in children, the inguinal canal almost directly penetrates from the abdominal wall with the inner and outer rings nearly overlapping. Therefore, only a 0.8-1.0 cm incision at the transversal groin is needed to complete the hernia sac high ligation surgery without incising the external ring. The surgery is less invasive, with little postoperative pain and quick recovery.  (2) Transumbilical laparoscopic surgery (TUES): 2 0.3 cm incisions are made through the umbilicus and super high ligation of the hernia sac is performed directly in the abdominal cavity with minimal trauma, mild postoperative pain, and quick recovery without visual scars.