A total of 335 pediatric inguinal hernias were analyzed at the Department of General Surgery, St. Benedict Hospital, for last 10 years (1986 to 1995). Male patients were predominant(2.25 : 1), and 78.2 % were under 2 years of age. Right side was 1.63 times more frequent than the left. Among the 19 cases of incarcerated hernias, 84 % could be safely reduced preoperatively. Twelve cases(3.6 %) were repaired by the Bassini procedure and 21 cases(6.3 %) by internal ring repair. The majority (90.1 %) however did not require a posterior wall reconstruction. Bilaterality was found in 25 cases(7.5 %), and in 8 cases(2.4 %) subsequent contralateral hernia developed after primary ipsilateral repair. Postoperative complication occurred in 15 cases(4.5 %); scrotal seroma and/ or hematoma(3%), wound infection(0.6 %), and pneumonia(0.9 %). In order to reduce the incidents of complications, children with inguinal hernias should be treated by a pediatric surgeon.
