Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Laparoscopic Repair of Para-Esophageal Hernia Using Absorbable Biosynthetic Mesh
Published on: September 11, 2021
Laparoscopic treatment of inguinal hernia in the first year of life
Ciro Esposito1, Leonardo Montinaro, Francesca Alicchio
1Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery Unit, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy. ciroespo@unina.it
Insights
Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants under one year is safe and effective. This minimally invasive technique allows for simultaneous repair of all hernia types, offering a viable alternative to traditional surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Hernia Repair
Background:
- Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is infrequently documented in infants under one year of age.
- This study highlights the benefits of laparoscopic repair in this specific pediatric demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants under one year of age.
- To emphasize the advantages of this minimally invasive approach in neonates and infants.
Main Methods:
- A modified laparoscopic herniorrhaphy technique (Montupet) was employed in 50 infants (1-12 months old).
- Procedures were performed in a day hospital setting with a median operative time of 22 minutes.
Main Results:
- Contralateral processus vaginalis patency was observed in 44% of cases, necessitating bilateral repair.
- A single minor complication (2%) and a low recurrence rate (1.3%) were recorded after a minimum 1-year follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is a safe and effective procedure for infants under one year, particularly when performed by experienced surgeons.
- The technique's ability to address all hernia types and contralateral patencies makes it a strong alternative to open surgery.
Background:
Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is rarely reported in the first year of life. In this article, we report our experience to emphasize the advantages of this procedure in this age range.
Patients And Methods:
In a 2-year period, we operated on 315 patients for unilateral inguinal hernia by using laparoscopy. Fifty of 315 patients (15.9%) had less than 1 year of age. This study focused on this group of 50 children (36 boys and 14 girls). The age range was 1-12 months (median, 6.7) with a median body weight of 5.5 kg (range, 3.7-9). As for a technical point of view, we used modified laparoscopic herniorraphy, according to the Montupet technique. After sectioning the sac distally to the ring, the periorifical peritoneum was closed by using a purse-string suture of a nonresorbable suture.
Results:
The median operating time was 22 minutes (range, unilateral, 7-30; bilateral, 12-42). All the procedures were performed in a day hospital setting. As for laparoscopic findings in 22 of 50 patients (44%), we found a contralateral patency of the processus vaginalis. In these 22 cases, we performed a bilateral herniorraphy. In 1 girl (2%), we found a coexistence of indirect hernia and a direct hernia on the right side. Both orifices were sutured in laparoscopy. We recorded only 1 minor complication (2%); a problem with needle extraction. With a minimum follow-up of 1 year, we have had only 1 recurrence (1.3%) on 73 herniorraphies performed.
Conclusions:
We believe that laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia in boys under 1 year of age by expert hands is a safe, effective procedure to perform. Its ability to simultaneously repair all forms of inguinal hernias, together with contralateral patencies, has cemented its role as a viable alternative to conventional repair.