Initial Experience with Percutaneous Internal Ring Suturing for Indirect Inguinal Hernia in Pediatric Patients

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to review our experience in treating indirect inguinal hernia in pediatric patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied a total of 43 patients who underwent percutaneous internal ring suturing (PIRS) for indirect inguinal hernia from January 2016 to September 2018. The participants included 29 boys and 14 girls. There were cases of bilateral internal inguinal hernia (n=12), right indirect inguinal hernia (n=16), and left indirect inguinal hernia (n=15). Their mean age was 3.8±2.9 years, and mean body weight was 16 kg. Clinical features and surgical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean operating time was 35 min for unilateral inguinal hernia and 40 min for bilateral inguinal hernia. There were five cases of intraoperative bleeding (12%) during needle insertion. In two cases, stress test resulted in escape of gas into the hernial sac and a second suture was inserted. The contralateral patent processus vaginalis was present in six (14% of cases) and closed. Follow-up was 6~30 months. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 1.2 days. No recurrence hernia and postoperative complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Although this study investigated a small number of cases and the surgical experience was rather limited, the PIRS technique was shown to have advantages such as a short learning curve and its aid in detecting contralateral hernias. In this study, there were no reports of recurrence, metachronous inguinal hernias, and postoperative complications.