INCIDENCE OF INGUINAL-HERNIAS DIAGNOSED DURING LAPAROSCOPY

This prospective study was done to identify the incidence of asymptoma tic hernias diagnosed during laparoscopic surgery. Previously unidenti fied inguinal hernias were discovered in 13 of 100 consecutive patient s undergoing laparoscopic procedures (13%). Nine of the patients were male, four were female. The average age was 43.3 years. Four defects w ere direct and nine were indirect (patent processus vaginalis). Eleven defects were small (<3 cm) but two were large (>3 cm). All four direc t defects occurred in male patients. We conclude that asymptomatic def ects are surprisingly common in our surgical population (13%) and that laparoscopic examination of the pelvis is a sensitive technique for i dentifying these defects. To date, no patient with laparoscopically di agnosed hernia has had symptoms or complications related to the hernia . We recommend that the surgeon should note in the medical record the presence of a defect, but not proceed with prophylactic repair of asym ptomatic defects.