Analysis of Complicated and Uncomplicated Inguinal Hernia in Pediatric Patients

Hospital del Niño Dr. Francisco de Icaza Bustamante, 2022–2024

Abstract

Inguinal hernia is one of the most common surgical conditions in the pediatric population and represents a frequent reason for outpatient visits and hospital admissions. The objective was to compare the distribution of complicated and uncomplicated inguinal hernias in the outpatient and hospitalization settings at the Hospital del Niño Dr. Francisco de Icaza Bustamante, from January 2022 to December 2024. A retrospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted using a single institutional database from the Hosvital system, distinguishing between outpatient and inpatient records with a primary diagnosis of inguinal hernia, corresponding to the period from January 2022 to December 2024. In outpatient care, 2,359 visits were recorded; 98.0% corresponded to forms without obstruction or gangrene (K40.9: 86.1%; K40.2: 11.9%), and 1.95% involved obstruction or gangrene. In hospitalizations, 443 pediatric discharges were documented, where codes with obstruction (K40.3 and K40.0) accounted for 13.54%, a proportion markedly higher than that observed in outpatient consultations. Complicated hernias predominate among hospitalized patients (13.54%) compared to the outpatient setting (1.95%); Amyand's hernia,  lthough uncommon, should be considered within the differential diagnosis of complicated inguinal hernias in infants given its intraoperative therapeutic implications.