What are the causes of inguinal hernia? Pediatric inguinal hernia develops as a result of unclosed sphincter, which is developmental. Acquired crying and coughing are predisposing factors. Do girls get hernias too? Yes, but less frequently than in boys. Hernias in girls are about one tenth as common as in boys. Is it true that there is no need for surgery if the inguinal “bulge” appears occasionally and disappears when I lie down? No. When the bulge disappears after lying down, it means that the contents of the hernia have been contained, but the unclosed hernia sac is still there. Therefore, it can only be cured by surgery. Inguinal hernia is a minor problem, what happens if it is not treated? If an inguinal hernia is left untreated, the child will not dare to do any strenuous activities, otherwise the hernia will become stuck again and again. In some cases, the hernia may develop as soon as the child stands up. Depending on the contents of the incarcerated hernia, there will be different effects. Common contents include intestinal tubes, omentum, ovaries (female specific), etc. An incarcerated hernia is mildly painful, and if it is not returned in time, it can lead to serious complications such as intestinal perforation, intestinal strangulation, torsional necrosis of the ovaries, and ischemic necrosis of the testes. Therefore, inguinal hernia inguinal hernia is a small problem, the treatment can be minimally invasive surgery, but not timely treatment once the complications are more serious. What are the treatment options for inguinal hernia? First of all, the standard surgical procedure for inguinal hernia is high hernia sac ligation, not patch repair. It is then categorized into traditional open surgery and laparoscopic surgery (i.e., minimally invasive surgery) depending on the access route. Do all inguinal hernias require surgery? Is there a possibility of self-healing? It is not certain, the rate of self-healing is reported to be very low in the literature, less than 5% overall. My child is still young and very worried. Is there a non-surgical treatment for inguinal hernia? Surgery is the only treatment, but manipulation can provide temporary relief after incarceration. Is there a time to operate on an inguinal hernia? According to the 2017 edition of the Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Surgical Practice Guidelines, it is recommended that inguinal hernias have little chance of closing after 6 months and elective surgery is recommended after 6 months. An incarcerated hernia that cannot be returned should be operated urgently, with no age limit; premature infants and infants with recurrent incarceration within 3 months should be operated as early as possible. Is surgery for inguinal hernia quick? Applying our new method, it takes about 10 minutes for unilateral hernia and less than 15 minutes for bilateral hernia. Is it more likely to recur after surgery if the child likes to cry? It is possible, but children who like to cry are also more prone to ingrown hernias. Therefore, crying is not a contraindication to hernia surgery. What do I need to know about inguinal hernia surgery? The procedure is short and recovery is quick. Do not catch a cold one week before surgery. Take care to avoid repeated coughing, constipation and other actions that increase abdominal pressure for three months after surgery. Does general anesthesia for inguinal hernia surgery in a young child affect the brain? First of all, the risk of general anesthesia is already very low due to the advancement of modern anesthesia techniques and the updating of drugs. Secondly, all drugs have a dosage-effect relationship. Inguinal hernia surgery is a short procedure with a low dosage of drugs, which has a minimal effect on the human body. In fact, the application of general anesthesia for very short surgical operations is the embodiment of comfortable medical care, as evidenced by the increasing number of painless gastroenteroscopies and painless deliveries. Do I need to be hospitalized for inguinal hernia surgery? Yes, at the moment. There is no resuscitation room in the outpatient clinic because of the need for medical observation during the post-operative anesthesia awakening phase, and outpatient costs are not yet covered by some medical insurances. However, more than 95% of patients are discharged within 24 hours after surgery. Do I need to remove stitches for inguinal hernia surgery? Current surgical procedures have no superficial sutures and do not require suture removal after surgery.