Abstract

Aim: Contralateral inguinal hernia which detected metachronously after the treatment of unilateral ınguinal hernia zcontinues to be a subject of debate in terms of incidence and treatment approach.

Material and Methods: In our study, the patients who underwent surgery with the diagnosis of unilateral hernia in 2001 in our clinic were listed and reached to detect metachronous contralateral inguinal hernia (MCIH) that developed during postoperative nine years.

Results: Seven hundred and forty patients with unilateral inguinal hernia and 48 patients with bilateral inguinal hernia were operated in our clinic in 2001 Five hundred and seventeen of 740 were reached for evaluation of MCIH. The incidence of MCIH among these 517 patients were estimated as 15,1% based on available data. First symptomatic side (right or left) and the sex of the patient had no impact on the incidence of metachronous hernia. On the other hand, age at onset was inversely correlated with this entity. The MCIH risk in boys presented with left inguinal hernia was 16,2%. The MCIH risk in boys applied with right hernia, in girls with left or right-sided hernias was lower (15%, 11,5%, and 14,5%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference among these four groups. The highest MCIH incidence was 32,1% in patients younger than 1 year old (Table 2). The median time for the onset of MCIH after treatment of unilateral hernia was 9 months.

Conclusion: In conclusion, in our study it has been revealed that the sex of the patient and the side of the hernia was not a risk factor, but the age especially younger than 1 year was a risk factor for MCIH. The incidence of MCIH detected as 15,1%, is high to disregard but low to explore the contralateral side in all patients. Therefore we think that the risk factor should be considered in each patients.