Occult contralateral inguinal hernias: what is their true incidence and should they be repaired?

Background: The true incidence of occult contralateral inguinal hernia is unknown; however, when found, there exists controversy as to whether or not they should be repaired. The aim of our study is to identify the incidence of contralateral incidental inguinal hernias in our surgical population, compare our results to previous studies timelining occult hernia identification to repair need, and generate debate as to whether incidental contralateral hernias should be repaired at the index operation.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 297 consecutive patients undergoing robotic inguinal hernia repair between October 2014 and April 2018 at a single facility.