Inguinal hernia and hydrocele

Abstract

Approximately 400 years ago, Ambroise Pare described the reduction of an incarcerated pediatric hernia and the application of trusses. He recognized that inguinal hernias in children were probably congenital and that they could be cured. Despite the many historical descriptions of conservative medical management of inguinal hernias, no effective nonsurgical means of treatment exists. Essentially all pediatric inguinal hernias require operative treatment to prevent the development of complications, such as incarceration and strangulation.