HERNIOGRAPHY IN SYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS FOLLOWING INGUINAL-HERNIA REPAIR

Patients with symptoms at the site of a previous inguinal hernia repai r may constitute a diagnostic dilemma. The usefulness of herniography in the assessment of these patients was evaluated at 54 symptomatic si tes in 46 subjects. Ten persistent or recurrent hernias were shown by herniography, only 2 of which were definitely detected on physical exa mination. The herniogram was normal at 44 sites, of which, on physical examination, 5 were equivocal and 1 was diagnosed as a definite herni a. On the unoperated-on or asymptomatic side, a total of 14 hernias we re shown herniographically. Of these hernias, 8 were not detected on p hysical examination. Herniography was found to be more sensitive than physical examination in detecting hernias at the symptomatic, previous ly operated on sites, as well as at the unoperated-on or asymptomatic sites. When a herniogram provides corroborative evidence that hernia h as not recurred, the need for reexploration may be eliminated.