Preoperative herniography in clinically manifest groin hernias

Herniography was performed in 88 patients (7 females, 81 males) clinically judged to have a groin hernia. The preoperative herniography demonstrated the exact type of hernia in 62 out of 94 hernias operated on (66%), and the hernias found at operation were predicted by the herniography in 69 out of 94 hernias operated on (73%). A contralateral asymptomatic hernia was revealed by herniography in 17 out of 88 patients. The majority (11) of these hernias were small and lateral. One patient with an asymptomatic femoral hernia underwent hernioplasty. The remaining 16 patients have not been operated on and have remained symptom-free. According to our experience, preoperative herniography does not appreciably alter the operative management of patients with clinically manifest groin hernias. Although the examination reveals a significant number of additional asymptomatic hernias, this diagnostic knowledge is probably of minimal clinical significance, especially when considering the discomforts and cost of the examination.