OBJECTIVE. To review the results of day-case procedures performed for inguinal hernia or hernia-hydrocele complex in Chinese children.

DESIGN. Retrospective study.

SETTING. Day Surgery Centre of a district hospital, Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. Medical records of 255 consecutive paediatric patients admitted to the Day Surgery Centre for inguinal herniotomy between July 1993 and December 1997 were reviewed. A telephone survey was conducted to assess any long-term morbidity relating to the operation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Patient demographics, success of day-case herniotomy, short-term and long-term morbidity.

RESULTS. There were 230 boys and 25 girls with a mean age of 8.8 years (range, 3 months to 18 years). Seven patients had bilateral herniotomy for bilateral hernia and 14 had circumcision for co-existing phimosis. Eight boys developed recurrence and three had a contralateral inguinal hernia. Postoperative ascent of the testis occurred in three patients, one of whom required orchidopexy. The unplanned admission rate was 1.6%, all for poor pain control. There were four herniotomy wound complications (two haematomas and two infections) and two circumcision wound haemorrhages.

CONCLUSIONS. Day-case inguinal herniotomy is safe and acceptable to Chinese children. Given these satisfactory results, paediatric patients with inguinal hernia can be safely managed with ambulatory surgery performed by suitably experienced surgeons.

Key words: Ambulatory surgical procedures; Hernia, inguinal

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