Inguinal Hernia Surgery

Image of baby being looked at by a pediatric doctor

What is an Inguinal Hernia?

An inguinal hernia is a sac of tissue that bulges out in the groin area or scrotum due to a persistent congenital anomaly and less often due to a weakened area in the abdominal wall (“adult type” inguinal hernia). Children are born with hernias but may not have symptoms until they are older. Inguinal hernias occur more frequently in boys than in girls and are the most common type of hernia in children.

Inguinal Hernia Causes

During fetal development in boys, the testicles move downward toward the scrotum through a tunnel called the processus vaginalis. After the testicles are in place, the tunnel is supposed to close and disappear. Inguinal hernias form when the processus vaginalis does not close.

Girls may also have the tunnel and when it does not close, an ovary, the fallopian tubes or intestines can "pop out." In boys, it may be the intestine or a testicle that pops out.

Sometimes it is only fluid that pops out, and then it is called a hydrocele (water sac). A hydrocele usually goes away by the time the child is 1 year old.

Types of Inguinal Hernia Surgery

There are two different types of inguinal hernia repair:

Open Hernia Surgery

In open hernia repair in children, an incision is made so the surgeon can push the protruding hernia back into the abdomen. Then the surgeon will close the processus vaginalis using sutures so that there is no longer a connection or tunnel from the abdomen to the groin. This is different than the repair for a more “adult type” inguinal hernia where the hernia is repaired using a piece of mesh in the abdominal wall to strengthen it. Mesh repair is generally not needed in children but may be needed in older teenagers and young adults.

Laparoscopic (Keyhole) Surgery

Keyhole surgery is minimally invasive and may result in less scarring and quicker recovery, compared with open surgery. The pediatric surgeon uses robotic tools to make several small incisions and repair the hernia.

The type of procedure your child will have depends on what best fits their unique needs. Our expert general surgeons can answer any questions you may have about inguinal hernia surgery.

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Inguinal Hernia Procedure & Risks

What You Should Know Before Your Child's Inguinal Hernia Surgery

While your child is waiting to have surgery, they should stick to light activities with no heavy lifting to avoid making their hernia worse. On the day before surgery, your child should not have food or drink after midnight. You will receive detailed instructions a few days before surgery regarding eating/drinking and where to go/when to be at the hospital for surgery.

On the day of the procedure, your child will need anesthesia to put them to sleep. They will go home the same day unless they have another issue that requires close medical attention.

Learn More About Preparing for Your Child's Surgery

What You Should Know After Your Child's Inguinal Hernia Surgery

As soon as your child wakes up after surgery, they will be given food and liquids. They will have small bandages and/or skin glue over the incisions in their groin. Your child will go home the same day.

Showering is allowed and encouraged, but none of the incisions should be submerged for two weeks after surgery. Pain medications (Tylenol/ibuprofen) can help keep your child comfortable the first day or two after surgery. Your child can return to school a few days after surgery. For the first two weeks, contact sports and heavy lifting should be avoided.

Risks of Inguinal Hernia Repair

Most children who have inguinal hernia repair tolerate the procedure well and have a full recovery. But just like any surgery, there are risks. These include:

Pain
Bleeding
Infection
Swelling around the testicle (hydrocele)
Testicle moves out of scrotum (testicular ascent)
Nerve damage
Damage to the testicle
Anesthesia risks

Our pediatric general surgeons are highly skilled at using surgical techniques to minimize these risks in children.

Learn More About Your Child's Recovery from Pediatric Surgery

Support Throughout the Inguinal Hernia Surgery Process

Our pediatric surgery care team is there for you and your child from initial diagnosis to follow-up care after the procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Inguinal Hernia Surgery

When does a inguinal hernia appear?

Parents often notice a "bulge" in their baby’s groin during infancy. It is not dangerous for the baby unless the intestines, ovary or testicle get caught in the hernia and do not go back into the belly (reduce), which can decrease the blood supply to the organ. But as long as the bulge can be pushed back in (reduced), the hernia is not an emergency. If the bulge becomes reddened or hard and cannot be pushed back, you should contact your child's pediatrician or go to the emergency room.

Your child may need emergency surgery for an inguinal hernia repair if they:

Have nausea and vomiting
Stop eating and drinking
Have severe pain or swelling or redness in the groin
Are unable to have a bowel movement

Surgery can repair the hernia and relieve your child’s symptoms.

How are inguinal hernias treated?

Inguinal hernias are usually repaired with surgery. It is the most common surgical procedure performed in infancy.

Hernia repair is typically scheduled within weeks of when it is first noticed. Sometimes, with older children, the repair can be delayed longer. If the bulge of the hernia cannot be pushed back in, the surgery must be performed quickly.

To fix the hernia, our pediatric surgical experts make a small incision along the folds in the inguinal area. Depending on what the surgeon finds when the child is examined and the age of the child, the hernia will be closed or repaired, and the other side will be opened and examined. If another hernia is found, it will also be repaired.

Will my child need to stay in the hospital overnight after inguinal hernia repair?

What questions should I ask the surgeon?

It’s natural for parents and loved ones to want to know as much as possible leading up to a pediatric surgery. Below are some common questions that may help kids and their family feel more comfortable prior to their procedure date.

How will this surgery help my child?
Why is it the best option moving forward?
Are there any risks associated with this procedure? What are the benefits of this procedure?
What medications will be used throughout the process?
Who will be a part of my child’s surgical care team?
How can we best prepare for the surgery? What do we need to know about the recovery process?
How long will the hospital stay be?
Is there anything my child should or shouldn’t eat before and after surgery?

Meet Our Pediatric General Surgery Team

Under the expert clinical leadership of Grace Mak, MD, our team provides the highest level of pediatric surgical care for children of all ages.

Edward Barksdale, MD

Pediatric Surgery

Marion Henry, MD, MPH

Pediatric Surgery

Brian Jones, MD

Pediatric Surgery

Jessica J. Kandel, MD

Pediatric Surgery

Charlotte Kvasnovsky, MD

Pediatric Surgery

Thomas K. Lee, MD

Pediatric Surgery

Request a Pediatric Surgery Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 773-702-6169 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

For Referring Physicians

To refer or transfer a patient, call 877-UC-KID-MD (877-825-4363).

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