SINGLE-INCISION LAPAROSCOPIC ELECTROCAUTERIZATION OF THE PROCESSUS VAGINALIS FOR INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR IN A FEMALE CHILD: A CASE REPORT
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Abstract
Background: Inguinal hernia in female children results from persistence of the processus vaginalis (canal of Nuck). Conventional open herniotomy and laparoscopic suture ligation are the standard treatments; however, both require tissue dissection or intracorporeal/extracorporeal suturing. Laparoscopic electrocauterization of the processus vaginalis through a single umbilical incision has emerged as a sutureless alternative with promising results in the international literature, yet has not been reported domestically.
Case presentation: We report a 4-year-old girl presenting with a 3-month history of intermittent right inguinal swelling. Ultrasonography revealed a 6 mm hernia sac with the ovary as the herniated content. Following informed consent, the patient underwent single-incision laparoscopic repair through the umbilicus. Intraoperative findings confirmed a right patent processus vaginalis; the ovary showed no edema, congestion, or signs of torsion. The hernia sac was inverted and cauterized using monopolar electrocautery at 20–30 W until complete closure of the internal inguinal ring was achieved. Operative time was 15 minutes. The patient resumed oral intake at 4 hours postoperatively and was discharged on the same day. At 1-week and 1-month follow-up, no complications or recurrence were observed.
Conclusion: In the reported case, single-incision laparoscopic electrocauterization of the processus vaginalis appeared to be feasible, minimally invasive, with favorable short-term postoperative outcomes for the treatment of inguinal hernia with ovarian prolapse in a female child. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are warranted to evaluate long-term efficacy and recurrence rates.
Keywords
Inguinal hernia, laparoscopy, electrocauterization, processus vaginalis, Burnia technique
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References
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