Prevalence and repair of inguinal hernias in children with bladder exstrophy.

PURPOSE: We delineated the prevalence, recurrence rates and optimal treatment of inguinal hernia in the exstrophy population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 181 children with exstrophy followed at our hospital inguinal hernias developed in 121 (66.8%).

RESULTS: In a 12-year period inguinal hernias developed in 81.8% of the boys and 10.5% of the girls. In 18.2% of the cases the hernia was repaired via a preperitoneal approach at the same time as exstrophy closure. The remaining patients underwent an inguinal operation. Most patients had a wide defect at the internal ring in addition to a patent processus vaginalis. The overall recurrence rate was 8.3%. The incidence of synchronous or asynchronous bilaterality was 81.8%.

CONCLUSIONS: Children with bladder exstrophy should be carefully examined for inguinal hernias before bladder closure. If a unilateral hernia is present, the contralateral side should be explored. Careful preperitoneal repair should emphasize repair of the internal ring.