Pediatric hernia, syringomyelia

  Pediatric hernia and syringomyelia are the most common surgical conditions in pediatric surgery, mostly in boys, but also in girls, and the incidence is higher in children. However, if the intestinal tube in the stomach enters the scrotum and does not return, it may cause paroxysmal pain or even vomiting. This is a medical condition called an “incarcerated hernia” and should be seen by a doctor immediately.  During the development of the embryo, there is a tube between the stomach and scrotum called the peritoneal sphincter, which begins to close around birth and no longer communicates with the abdominal cavity. If it is not closed, the contents of the abdominal cavity such as intestines can fall down and a pediatric hernia is formed. If the canal is small and only intra-abdominal fluid can flow down it is a syringomyelia.  A true hernia cannot grow back on its own. Some children grow up without further hernia attacks, but in old age, as muscle strength decreases and fascia relaxes, a hernia may appear again. Since hernias and syringomyelia affect growth and testicular development, and hernias are at risk of impaction, the scientific attitude is to treat them surgically in a timely manner so as not to lose too much for too little.  The so-called hernia entrapment refers to the fact that the intra-abdominal organ enters the hernia sac, gets stuck, cannot reset itself and stays inside the sac, followed by impaired blood circulation and even ischemic necrosis. Children show paroxysmal crying or pointing their fingers to the swelling to indicate pain, and soon they can have symptoms of intestinal obstruction such as nausea, vomiting, stopping defecation and exhaustion, which are common complications of pediatric hernia. Children without a history of hernia can also be first seen with an “incarcerated hernia”.  The hernia should be brought to the hospital as soon as it becomes lodged and can be repositioned by manipulation in the early stage, if: 1) it has been lodged for more than 12 hours; 2) there is blood in the stool and the general condition is not good; 3) the hernia is lodged in a girl and the contents of the hernia are often the ovaries and fallopian tubes; 4) the hernia is lodged in a newborn; 5) the manipulation has failed. The above cases often require surgical treatment.  What should be done to treat a hernia after 6 months of age, or if the child is less than 6 months old but the hernia is large and falls into the scrotum, and if there is a risk of entrapment, early surgery is indicated. Syringomyelia can be observed up to 1 year of age if it is not too large. Surgery is the only safe and reliable treatment. There are two types of surgery, traditional small incision surgery and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.  Our traditional small incision is less than 1 cm. In comparison, laparoscopic minimally invasive treatment is recommended, with the following advantages: (1) short operation time, little damage and fast recovery.  (2) Laparoscopic treatment of both sides of the hernia does not require additional surgical incisions.  (3) In case of unilateral hernia, the “invisible hernia” on the opposite side can be detected during surgery and operated at the same time, avoiding the need for re-operation in the future for the development of the opposite side.  (4) The cosmetic effect is obvious, and the surgical scar is basically invisible after healing.