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 which bulges out from the abdomen in the groin. 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 is the most common type of hernia in children.

During fetal development in boys, the testicles move downward toward the scrotum through a tunnel — 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, tubes or intestines "pop out." In boys, it may be the intestines or a testicle that "pop out."

Sometimes it is only fluid which "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.

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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.

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

Because removal and closure of the hernia sac is a surgical procedure, it requires anesthesia. The procedure does not require a hospital stay unless your child has some additional condition which demands post-operative nursing care. Your child should not have food or drink before surgery.

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

As soon as he or she awakens after surgery, your child will be given food and liquids. There will be small surgi-strips at the site of the surgery, and the only care needed will be to keep it dry after cleaning the incision site.

Bathing is allowed and encouraged. Pain medications are given if needed to keep your child comfortable the first day or two after surgery. Young children recover quickly and so a quieter weekend with return to school on Monday is all that is commonly required.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Inguinal Hernia Surgery

When does a inguinal hernia appear?

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 several weeks of when it is first noticed. Sometimes, with older children, the repair can be delayed longer. If there is an incarceration (whatever has "popped out" cannot go 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, the "bulge" will be closed or repaired and the other side will be opened and examined. If a hernia is found, it will also be repaired.

What are the different types of inguinal hernia surgery?

There are two different types of inguinal hernia procedures..

Open Hernia Surgery

In open hernia repair, an incision is made so that the surgeon can push the protruding hernia back into the abdomen.

Laparoscopic (Keyhole) Surgery

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

The type of procedure that will be performed on your child depends on what best fits your child's unique needs. Your care team can help answer any questions you may have about inguinal hernia surgery.

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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