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Inguinal Hernias Associated with Biliary Atresia
European Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 07/03/2012
Zani A et al. – This is the first report to suggest that BA infants have a high incidence of inguinal hernias, which seems related to degree of liver fibrosis at presentation and presumably degree of ascites and increased intra–abdominal pressure.
Methods- Single-center retrospective review of all BA infants diagnosed between January 2006 and December 2010.
- Infants with a clinical diagnosis of inguinal hernia were identified and compared with those without.
- Data were expressed as median (range) and compared with nonparametric statistical tests. p > 0.05 was regarded as significant.
- A total of 123 infants underwent Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) during the period. Of these, 10 (8.1%) infants (7 boys) developed inguinal hernias (bilateral n = 4, right n = 5, left n = 1); 9 were repaired (at KP [n = 3] and post-KP [n = 6] at 15 [7 to 30] days) using nonabsorbable sutures, and 1 died before repair.
- There was no difference in median age at KP (66 vs. 58 days, p = 0.31); cytomegalovirus (IgM positive) status (p = 1.0); use of postoperative corticosteroids (p = 0.49); or ultimate need for liver transplant (p = 1.0).
