Variation in the use of laparoscopy with inguinal hernia repairs in a sample of pediatric patients at children's hospitals

Summary Introduction/background Metachronous contralateral inguinal hernias (MCH) occur in approximately 10% of pediatric patients following unilateral inguinal hernia repairs (UIHR). Laparoscopic evaluation of the contralateral internal ring is a method of identifying high-risk individuals for prophylactic contralateral exploration and repair. Objective The objective of this study was to assess variation in utilization of diagnostic laparoscopy, and report costs associated with the evaluation of a contralateral patent processus vaginalis during hernia repair in pediatric hospitals. Study design The Pediatric Health Information System database was searched to identify outpatient surgical encounters for pediatric patients with a diagnosis of inguinal hernia during a 1-year period (2014). Records were identified that contained diagnostic codes for unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia in combination with a procedure code for open hernia repair with or without diagnostic laparoscopy. Results After exclusions there were 3952 hernia repairs performed at 30 hospitals; median age was 4 years (IQR 1–7), 78.8% were male, and 64.9% Caucasian. Three-quarters (76.7%) had UIHR, 8.6% had unilateral repairs with laparoscopy (UIHRL), 12.2% had bilateral inguinal hernia repairs (BIHR), and 2.4% had bilateral repairs with laparoscopy (BIHRL). Where laparoscopy was used, 78% resulted in a unilateral repair and 22% in a bilateral procedure. The percent of patients undergoing laparoscopy varied from 0 to 57% among hospitals, and 0–100% among surgeons. Pediatric surgeons were more than three times more likely to perform a diagnostic laparoscopy compared with pediatric urologists. Median adjusted costs were $2298 (IQR 1659–2955) for UIHR, $2713 (IQR 1873–3409) for UIHRL, $2752 (IQR 2230–3411) for BIHR, and $2783 (IQR 2233–3453) for BIHRL. Median costs varied over two-fold among hospitals ($1310–4434), and over four-fold among surgeons ($948–5040). Discussion Data suggested that Conclusions Variation existed in the use of laparoscopy during inguinal hernia repairs and associated costs within the current sample from children's hospitals in the United States. The additional costs of laparoscopic evaluation must be considered against the clinical utility and therapeutic consequences of identifying individuals with a higher risk of metachronous contralateral inguinal hernia. Summary Table . Characteristics of population and proportion, and cost of hernia repairs with and without diagnostic laparoscopy. Characteristic Total (n = 3.952) Hernia without laparoscopy (n = 3.515) Hernia with diagnostic laparoscopy (n = 437) Laterality: Unilateral 3375 (85.4) 3033 (86.3) 342 (78.3) Bilateral 577 (14.6) 482 (13.7) 95 (21.7) Age, years: Median (IQR) 4 (1–7) 4 (1–7) 2 (0–5) 665 (16.8) 542 (15.4) 123 (28.1) 1–2 917 (23.2) 815 (23.2) 102 (23.3) 3–5 1034 (26.2) 925 (26.3) 109 (24.9) 6–11 869 (22.0) 784 (22.3) 85 (19.5) 12–18 467 (11.8) 449 (12.8) 18 (4.1) Gender: Male 3115 (78.8) 2807 (79.9) 308 (70.5) Female 837 (21.2) 708 (20.1) 129 (29.5) Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian 2565 (64.9) 2264 (64.4) 301 (68.9) Black 658 (16.6) 586 (16.7) 72 (16.5) Other 587 (14.9) 543 (15.4) 44 (10.1) Missing 142 (3.6) 122 (3.5) 20 (4.6) Hispanic 592 (15.0) 544 (15.5) 48 (11.0) Payer type: Public 1849 (46.8) 1658 (47.2) 191 (43.7) Private 1934 (48.9) 1697 (48.3) 237 (54.2) Self/other 169 (4.3) 160 (4.5) 9 (2.1) Surgeon type: Pediatric surgeon 2766 (70.0) 2387 (67.9) 379 (86.7) Pediatric urologist 1186 (30.0) 1128 (32.1) 58 (13.3) Adjusted cost: $2395 ($1735–3071) $2363 ($1718–3024) $2735 ($1990–3425) Table given as median (IQR) or n (%).