What Is an Inguinal Hernia?

An inguinal hernia is the most common surgical problem of childhood often appearing as a swelling caused by fatty tissue or a part of the bowel, such as the intestine, poking through into the groin at the top of the inner thigh.  Inguinal hernias never go away without treatment.  Left untreated the hernia can become trapped or incarcerated which are life-threatening complications that need emergency surgery. As many of the children we see with hernia’s live far from any medical facilities it is unlikely they would reach medical care in time if complications were to set in. 

The surgery takes an hour to perform and some children are able to return home on that day or have an overnight stay to ensure they’ve recovered. 

By operating early as an elective procedure we can reduce the need for more complex and potentially risky emergency surgeries and higher healthcare costs in the future.