FOLLOW-UP AFTER INGUINAL HERNIOTOMY OR SURGERY FOR HYDROCELE IN BOYS

A retrospective review of 556 boys who had undergone inguinal hernioto my or surgery for hydrocele was carried out to assess the value of ear ly routine postoperative follow-up. Of 386 children given an appointme nt, 319 (82.6 per cent) attended. The testis was no longer palpable in the normal scrotal position in 12 boys; eight were normal on further review and four required orchidopexy. Six hydroceles, all of which res olved, and four contralateral hernias were detected. Nineteen boys (4. 9 per cent) were referred later with recurrent hernia (two patients), ipsilateral high testis (two), or contralateral hernia or hydrocele (1 5). Of 170 children not given a routine appointment, ten (5.9 per cent ) were subsequently referred back with a transient hydrocele (two) or a contralateral hernia (eight). After a total of 440 appointments, eig ht boys (1.8 per cent) were found to have a significant abnormality. T he rate of referral back to hospital was similar in both groups. Early discharge would make more efficient use of outpatient resources witho ut significantly affecting overall outcome.