Surgery guide for inguinal hernia repair in children

Are you a worried parent whose kid has a small bump near the groin area and doctors are saying that it needs to be fixed? If yes, we understand that it can be very troubling for you to even think of taking your child for surgery.

However, the surgery will be a simple procedure so do not fear and get it fixed for the little kid.

Usually, this inguinal canal closes before the birth of your kid however sometimes it fails to do so which gives the part of your kid’s intestine a way to enter. When the intestines slip through the opening it will appear like a bulge on the outside near the groin area.

You can even slide the bulge in with your fingers when you press it in.

To fix this issue your kid will have an incision made into his abdomen and the part of the intestine that coming out will be pushed in surgically that process will be called inguinal hernia repair surgery

Why Does my child need hernia repair surgery?

Inguinal hernia can happen soon after birth or it may take months to appear and is very worrisome for new parents. Hernia cannot be repaired on their own in kids and they should always be surgically repaired.

The decision to fix the hernia should not be made by the parents and the parents should only follow the instructions of the physician. An inguinal Hernia cannot be fixed on its own and will need surgery sooner or later.

However, it is best to get the hernia repaired as soon as you come to know that your kid has this issue because there is a probability that the hernia can turn into an Incarcerated hernia or Strangulated hernia and become life-threatening for your little champ. Therefore, doctors always recommend getting Hernia repair surgery done as soon as possible.

Your kid may need a Hernia repair surgery if the kid has the following symptoms

• Has a bulge near the groin area, that becomes more prominent when the kid cries and becomes small when the kid is calm or is asleep
• Your kid shows a Loss of appetite
• Your child is irritated
• Your newborn Cries a lot
• Has difficulty with bowel movements

What should I do before my child’s hernia repair surgery?

Here is the list of things you can do post-surgery to prepare yourself and the kid for the procedure

●     See a detailed video about the procedure:

You and your child should be prepared for what is about to come and you can do that by watching a video of the procedure. If your child is faint-hearted, you can just explain the procedure and can watch the video alone and understand the procedure. This will give you closure, and you will understand what is about to happen.

●     Speak to your kid’s anesthesiologist

Another important person that you will meet when your little kid is undergoing surgery is the anesthesiologist and you should speak to them and clarify if your kid has any allergies to avoid any issues during the surgery.

●     Pack your hospital bag:

The stay for your kid after the Inguinal Hernia surgery will not last long and mostly the staff will let you go home the same day. Therefore, you do not need to bring too many things with you.

The only thing that you would have at the hospital is your hospital bag so make sure to pack it wisely. You can pack your kid’s favorite toys, blanket, and pillow in case the kid has any favorites. Other things you can keep in your hospital bag are as follows

• Pain meds
• Extra pair of PJs
• Extra shoes
• Extra clothes
• Shampoo, and soap in case your kid has a complication and has to stay longer
• Hand sanitizer
• Some snack.

●     Do not let them eat before the surgery:

We understand how these little ones can get hungry anytime, but your kid’s stomach should be empty, and he should stop eating a few hours before the surgery as per the healthcare provider’s instructions.

●     Talk to your kid or siblings if any:

One of the most important things to do before surgery is to prepare your kid for the surgery. You must make up your little one’s mind for the procedure in an age-appropriate way. You can tell your toddler that there was an issue with their tummy and the doctor is going to fix that and his or her tummy will go back to normal.

Another important thing to do before coming to the hospital is to prepare the siblings as well because the child will remain at home after the surgery and will need the support of everyone at home. Older siblings can make the kid comfortable at home and support them post-surgery.

What do you expect on the day of surgery?

On the day of the surgery

• Your kid will get dressed in hospital clothes and
• The staff will put the kid on IVS.
• The nurses will make sure the child has not eaten anything
• Nurses will take him to the anesthesiologist.
• Soon after the anesthesia, the surgeon will make an abdominal incision and will surgically push the intestine back and close the inguinal opening so that it cannot happen again.
• The surgeon may use tape to close and cover your kid’s incision. Mostly the procedure does not take longer but it depends upon the circumstances. However, you will be able to go back home with your little one a few hours after the procedure if everything is going well.

What post-surgery care should I provide to my child?

Once your child comes back from the OT, post-surgery care is in your hands and while caring for your kid post-op you can keep the following points in mind

• You should not skip your child’s pain medications as it can cause the child pain
• Make sure your kid is comfortable and gets lots of sleep as they need time to recover
• Try to restrict your kid’s movement as the wound needs to heal. However, if your kid feels bored you can ask them to watch their favorite shows
• Ask your kid if he or she is feeling any pain or discomfort and if you find any complicated issue talk to the doctor as soon as possible
• If your kid seems scared as he has just experienced surgery try to calm him down and give emotional support
• If your kid is an infant, you should leave them diaper-free until the wound heals and feed them as per the physician’s recommendation
• Your kid should have a fiber-rich diet to avoid constipation and should also take proteins for fast healing of the wounds
• Your kid will be able to take his or her first bath 24 to 48 hours post-operation. Try to gently wash the wound and pat dry it
• Give your child a bath and the surgical tape will fall off gradually, if it doesn’t peel it off take your kid to the hospital to get it removed
• Keep the incision clean and dry to avoid infection
• The wound would take around 2 to 4 weeks to heal
• The stitches used in the surgery do not need to be removed as they will in 2 to 8 weeks depending upon the healing power of your body

When to seek medical help

You may call your doctor if you find these signs in your kid after the surgery

• Your kid’s incision may appear a little swollen and red but if it increases you should call a doctor
• If your kid is unable to pee or has painful bowel movements
• If you find fewer wet diapers in your infant
• If the kid is complaining of pain
• If the incision is bleeding
• If the kid has a high-grade fever
• If the kid has severe vomiting

All these signs are considered dangerous signs after the inguinal hernia repair surgery so look out for them and get medical help as soon as possible.