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Inguinal hernias in premature infants operated on before discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit
Insights
Surgery for inguinal hernias in premature infants is safe, with no complications. However, it takes longer and costs 22% more compared to full-term infants, a necessary expense for neonatal intensive care units.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Inguinal hernias are common in premature infants.
- Surgical repair is often necessary before hospital discharge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes and costs of inguinal hernia repair in premature infants.
- To compare these outcomes with those of full-term infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 16 premature infants operated on for inguinal hernia.
- Comparison with a control group of 11 full-term infants.
Main Results:
- No surgical complications, recurrences, infections, or testicular atrophy were observed in premature infants.
- Premature infants required significantly longer operating room, operation, and recovery room times.
- This led to a 22% increase in costs for premature infant hernia repair.
Conclusions:
- Inguinal hernia repair in premature infants is safe with excellent outcomes.
- Increased operative time and costs are associated with premature infants and should be anticipated.
- These costs are an accepted part of neonatal intensive care unit management.
Abstract:
Sixteen premature infants were operated on during the two-year period from 1981 through 1982 for inguinal hernia prior to discharge from the hospital. There were no complications from the hernias before surgery and during administration of anesthesia and postoperative recovery, and no recurrences, would infections, or testicular atrophy was noted in long-term follow-up. In contrast to a controlled group of 11 full-term patients of this same age who were operated on as outpatients, the operating room time, operation time, and time in the recovery room were significantly increased for the premature infants. This resulted in a 22% increase in cost for the correction of the premature inguinal hernias. Analysis of the factors in repair of these hernias indicates that this increased cost will have to be accepted as part of the care of premature infants in neonatal intensive care units.
