Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025
Clinical Application of 24 G Cannula Needle and 3-0 Polypropylene Suture in Vas Deferens Exploration
Published on: February 10, 2023
Complications while awaiting elective inguinal hernia repair in infants: Not as common as you thought
Anthony Ferrantella1, Juan E Sola2, Joshua Parreco3
1DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/JESola1.
Insights
Delayed inguinal hernia repair in infants may be safe, with complications being less frequent than previously believed. This study suggests that significant morbidity is rare even when surgery is postponed after initial diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neonatal Care
- Clinical Practice Guidelines
Background:
- Early inguinal hernia repair in infants is standard practice due to concerns about incarceration and complications.
- Previous reports suggest high risks associated with delayed surgical intervention for infant inguinal hernias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the actual frequency of complications in infants who undergo delayed surgery for inguinal hernia repair.
- To assess the risks associated with postponing inguinal hernia repair in both preterm and full-term infants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Nationwide Readmissions Database (2010-2014) to identify infants with inguinal hernias.
- Compared outcomes for infants undergoing repair during initial admission versus those discharged without repair and subsequently readmitted.
Main Results:
- Out of 33,530 infants, a minority of preterm (35%) and full-term (18%) infants received repair during their initial admission.
- 15% of infants discharged without repair required readmission within a year, but only a small percentage (2% preterm, 1% full-term) had surgery during readmission.
- No readmitted infants showed signs of strangulated hernia.
Conclusions:
- Complications associated with delayed inguinal hernia repair in infants appear less common than previously assumed.
- Significant morbidity from delayed surgical treatment of inguinal hernias in this population is rare.
Background:
The dogma of early inguinal hernia repair in infants, especially those born prematurely, has dominated clinical practice owing to reports of a high frequency of incarceration and significant complications associated with untreated inguinal hernias. We aim to evaluate the frequency of complications after discharge with delayed surgery for inguinal hernia repair.
Methods:
The Nationwide Readmissions Database (2010-2014) was queried to identify infants diagnosed with inguinal hernia. We compared the frequency and characteristics of inguinal hernia repair performed during the index admission, discharge from the index admission without hernia repair, and unplanned readmissions.
Results:
We identified 33,530 infants (16,624 preterm and 16,906 full-term) diagnosed with an inguinal hernia during an index admission. For those infants diagnosed with an inguinal hernia at birth, inguinal hernia repair was performed during the birth admission for only a minority of both preterm (35%) and full-term infants (18%; P < .001). Of the infants discharged without hernia repair, 15% required nonelective readmission up to 1 year later, but only 2% of preterm and 1% of full-term infants actually underwent inguinal hernia repair during these unplanned readmissions. None of the readmitted infants underwent additional procedures suggestive of a strangulated hernia.
Conclusion:
Complications among infants awaiting inguinal hernia repair may be substantially less common than previously reported, and the occurrence of significant associated morbidity is quite rare.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Aneurysm IV: Nursing Management
01:26Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...