Effect of Early vs Late Inguinal Hernia Repair on Serious Adverse Event Rates in Preterm Infants
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Inguinal Hernia 28 items
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What the experts said
Inguinal hernias are very common in preterm infants.
The optimal timing for surgical repair of inguinal hernias in preterm infants is still debated due to associated risks.
A recent European study showed 56% of surgeons recommend inguinal hernia surgery before discharge in preterm infants.
The JAMA 2024 trial enrolled 338 preterm infants diagnosed with inguinal hernias before their initial hospital discharge.
Infants were randomized to early repair (before NICU discharge) or late repair (after NICU discharge).
The primary outcome was occurrence of predefined serious adverse events over 10 months, including death, hernia complications, and respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity.
Late repair reduced serious adverse events to 18% compared to 28% in the early repair group.
The late repair group experienced a 3-day reduction in length of hospital stay.
Delaying inguinal hernia repair until after NICU discharge might be safer for preterm infants, potentially reducing the risk of serious complications.