Hernias associated with CAPD in children

Twenty-eight hernias occurred in eighteen of seventy-nine pediatric patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). There was 18 inguinal hernias (6 bilateral) in 12 patients (11 boys and 1 girl) the average age of the male patients with inguinal hernias was 5.2 years vs 9.3 years for the remaining 32 males. Four of the 11 patients were under 2 years old, where as only 3 of the remaining 32 patients were less than 2 (p less than 0.05), and 3 of the 6 patients with bilateral hernias were under 2. A high incidence of recurrent hernias was noted when only high ligation of the hernia sac was performed. We conclude that all candidates for PD should be carefully evaluated for the presence of occult hernias, hernias should be repaired promptly and electively on an inpatient basis, surgical correction of hernias should include a formal Cooper ligament repair and males under 2 should have bilateral repairs done even if they present with a single hernia.