• C Esposito, S Turial, M Escolino, I Giurin, F Alicchio, J Enders, K Krause, A Settimi, and F Schier.
• Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, Naples, 80131, Italy. ciroespo@unina.it
• Pediatr. Surg. Int. 2012 Oct 1;28(10):989-92.

PurposeThis retrospective study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety and complication rate of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair for small babies weighing 3 kg or less.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on the surgical charts of 67 infants (47 boys and 20 girls) weighing 3 kg or less who underwent laparoscopic hernia repair in a 3-year period. A regular 5-mm scope was used for visualization, and 2 or 3-mm instruments were used for the closure of the inner inguinal ring using 3/0 non-absorbable suture. The median weight at surgery was 2,600 g (range 1,450-3,000 g). All except three were premature.ResultsOf the 67 infants, 15 (22.3 %) presented with an irreducible hernia. In three cases of irreducible hernias, we also performed a transumbilical appendectomy at the end of the hernia repair. Minor problems related with anesthesia were noted in four cases. Hernia recurrence was observed in three patients (4.4 %). No cases of testicular atrophy occurred. In 10 boys, we observed 12 cases of high testes, only 4 testes requiring subsequent orchiopexy.ConclusionsLaparoscopic inguinal hernia repair for babies weighing 3 kg or less is feasible, safe and perhaps even less technically demanding than open inguinal herniotomy.

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