[When and how we perform surgery for inguinal hernia in children].

In the course of 15 years in the authors department 4,694 operations of inguinal hernias and hydrocele were performed in children at the age of 0-15 years. Most frequently children aged 2-5 years were involved (45%). There were 4.5 times more boys than girls and the lateral distribution was also consistent with data in the literature. A relapse of hernia occurred in 33 children (i.e. 0.7%) operated in the authors department and in 19 children originally operated elsewhere. The total percentage of relapses in the group is 1.1%. In 25 children factors were identified which predispose for relapses. Relapses were most frequent in children operated before the age of one year (52%). The authors recommend therefore that operations of these children should be entrusted to a paediatric surgeon.