Incarcerated and strangulated inguinal hernias in children in Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract:

Objective: To reappraise the problem of incarcerated and strangulated inguinal hernias in children in Zaria, Nigeria. Design: A retrospective study. Setting: Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. Patients: Eighteen children aged below two years with incarcerated and strangulated inguinal hernias managed over a 10 year period. Main outcome measures: Incarceration and strangulation rate, resection rate, testicular infarction, wound infection. Results: The overall incarceration and strangulation rate was 4.8%. The rate in neonates was 80%, 33% in those less than six months and 21% in those below one year. There was no incarceration or strangulations after two years of age. The intestinal resection rate for gangrene was 11% (two neonates) and ipsilateral orchidectomy was necessary for testicular infarction in two neonates (11%). Wound infection occurred in three patients (17%) and there were no deaths. Overall, there has been an improvement in the incarceration and strangulation rate, resection rate and wound infection rate over earlier years (5.7%, 28% and 50% respectively for earlier years) due largely to early presentation. Testicular infarction, however, remains a major risk particularly in neonates. Conclusion: The policy of early repair of inguinal hernias in children especially below two years and particularly in neonates should be continuously emphasised to avoid morbidity.

Año de publicación:

1999

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus