EARLY HERNIA REPAIR IN THE PREMATURE-INFANT - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP 1993 Annual Meeting of the Section on Surgery of the American-Academy-of-Pediatrics Krieger, N. R., Shochat, S. J., McGowan, V., Hartman, G. E. W B SAUNDERS CO. 1994: 978–82

Abstract

The incidence of inguinal hernia and incarceration is high among premature infants. Optimal timing, anesthetic technique, and long-term results of hernia repair in hospitalized premature infants remain undefined. The authors reviewed the records of 52 consecutively treated premature infants who underwent bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy under general anesthesia before discharge from the intensive care nursery. There were no significant differences in gestational age, birth weight, age and weight at time of surgery, or presence of preoperative apnea or bradycardia in between infants extubated within 24 hours and those intubated for more than 24 hours. Twenty-four infants (46%) were available for follow-up of 24 months or more (mean follow-up period, 57 months). One recurrence was identified, representing 4% of the long-term follow-up group and 2% of the initial population. Two patients had asymmetric testicular volumes suggestive of unilateral atrophy. The short- and long-term results suggest that repair under general anesthesia can be safely performed before discharge from the intensive care nursery.

View details for Web of Science ID A1994PB51600005

View details for PubMedID 7965533