Adv Pediatr Surg.  2021 Dec;27(2):54-58. 10.13029/aps.2021.27.2.54.

A Descriptive Study of Incarcerated Inguinal Hernia in Preterm Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A 10-Year Single-Center Experience

• Choo K
• Nam S
• Kim W
• Bang MJ
• Lee S
• Seo JM

• KMID: 2525534
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13029/aps.2021.27.2.54

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of our study was to provide informative data for surgically treated preterm infants with incarcerated inguinal hernia (IH) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Methods
Medical records of 9 preterm infants in NICU who underwent IH repair before NICU discharge between January 2011 and June 2020 were reviewed. The definition of incarcerated IH used was irreducible IH even by pediatric surgeon regardless of the use of sedation. The incarceration rate was calculated and informative data for incarcerated IH patients were collected.
Results
Of 237 IH patients, 9 were diagnosed with an incarcerated IH and underwent emergency repair. At diagnosis of IH, the median age, the median postmenstrual age, and the median body weight were 22 days, 29.7 weeks, and 1,090 g, respectively. The diagnosis interval from IH to incarceration was ranged from 6 to 51 days, and none of them died of surgical procedure-related complications. Strangulation occurred in 4 patients and was treated with small bowel resection and enterostomy.
Conclusion
This study provided informative data for incarcerated IH in preterm infants successfully treated surgically. Close observation is more necessary because the incarceration rate during observation of preterm infants with IH in the NICU is as high as 3.8%.

Keyword

Inguinal hernia; Incarceration; Herniorrhaphy; Preterm infant; Neonatal intensive care unit