Inguinoscrotal hernia in infants: Three case reports in ultrasound diagnosis

Persistence of the processus vaginalis and its related disorders

The processus vaginalis is a blind-ended evagination of the abdominal wall that develops during fetal life and typically undergoes obliteration in early life. Persistence of the processus vaginalis is associated with a number of pathologies including congenital indirect inguinal hernias, communicating hydroceles, funicular and encysted hydroceles, canal of Nuck cysts, and acquired undescended testis. Whilst all are detectable sonographically, there is little educational material relevant to the field of ultrasound with much of the literature directed at surgical and primary care physicians. Furthermore, within the literature there is a lack of consensus on several areas including the anatomy and embryology of the processus vaginalis and the mechanisms behind its obliteration. As such the objective of this paper is to distil the information regarding the persistent processus vaginalis as it is relevant to ultrasound and in doing so address the literature gap for sonographers and sonologists. The anatomy and embryology of the persistent processus vaginalis will be discussed including causative mechanisms for anomalies with their sonographic appearance highlighted.

Definition of giant inguinoscrotal hernias in infants and evaluation of reliable surgical approach in a single-center study

Objective

Inguinal hernia surgery is the most common surgery performed by pediatric surgeons. Giant inguinoscrotal hernia has not been clearly defined yet. The definition of giant inguinoscrotal hernia and the reliability of the surgical procedure were investigated in this study.

Materials and methods

Sixtyfour of totally 1548 male patients who have been operated with inguinal hernia from May 2015 to January 2018 were included in the study considering the diagnosis of giant inguinoscrotal hernia. The criteria for the diagnosis of giant inguinoscrotal hernia were determined as, observing that the hernia sac was filled with intestinal loops from the inguinal region to the scrotum during the physical examination, herniation of the intestines to the scrotum again as soon as the hernia was reduced and 2 cm and above inner ring diameter. High ligation and hernioplasty to 29 (45.3%) patients and hernioplasty using Zig maneuver to 35 (54.6%) patients were performed during the study.

Results

Postoperative wound infection was observed in 2 patients (6.8%) with high ligation and 1 (2.8%) patient with hernioplasty with Zig maneuver. Scrotal edema was detected in all the patients, which persisted until postoperative month 1. Recurrence was seen in 6 (20.6%) of 29 patients who operated using the high ligation method while it was seen in 2 (5.7%) of other 35 patients. None of the patients had testicular atrophy and/or iatrogenic undescended testis.

Conclusion

Giant inguinoscrotal hernias should be defined and evaluated as a group apart from classical inguinoscrotal hernias. Recurrence and morbidity rates were lower in patients who underwent hernioplasty using Zig maneuver.

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The definition of giant inguinoscrotal hernia and the reliability of the surgical procedure were investigated clearly in this study.

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Giant inguinoscrotal hernias should be defined and evaluated as a group apart from classical inguinoscrotal hernias.

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Giant inguinal hernias are rare in children and the treatment require surgical experience.