BMJ  2008;336:269-272 (2 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39450.428275.AD

Clinical Review

Inguinal hernias

¹ University Department of Surgery, Western Infirmary, Glasgow G11 6NT

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Summary points If patients with asymptomatic inguinal hernia are medically fit, they should be offered repair Mesh repair is associated with the lowest recurrence rates of hernia Laparoscopic repair is suggested for recurrent and bilateral inguinal hernias, though it may also be offered for primary inguinal hernia repair The median absence from work after hernia repair is seven days and may be 14 days for those doing strenuous work Early complications include bruising, numbness, and wound infection Chronic pain is the predominant late complication

Abdominal wall hernias are common, with a prevalence of 1.7% for all ages and 4% for those aged over 45 years. Inguinal hernias account for 75% of abdominal wall hernias, with a lifetime risk of 27% in men and 3% in women.¹ Repair of inguinal hernia is one of the most common operations in general surgery, with rates ranging from 10 per 100 000 of the population in . . . [Full text of this article]

How do inguinal hernias present?

How is an inguinal hernia assessed clinically?

Examination of a patient with a suspected inguinal hernia

How can an inguinal hernia be treated?

Surgical options for inguinal hernias
Mesh or sutured repair?
Open or laparoscopic repair?
Local, general, or regional anaesthesia?
What to do with a hernia with minimal or no symptoms
Is there a role for a hernia truss?

What is the recovery period after inguinal hernia surgery?

What can go wrong after inguinal hernia surgery?

Early complications
Death
Wound complications and surgical site infections
Late complications
Hernia recurrence
Chronic pain
Infertility

Future directions

Additional educational resources
For patients
For doctors
Sources and selection criteria

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