ABSTRACT
Direct hernia is exceedingly rare at this age1 and practically all congenital indirect inguinal herniae develop because the processus vaginalis remains patent after birth. This processus is an outpouching of the peritoneum through the inguinal canal that is first seen during the third month of intrauterine life. It accompanies the gubernaculum and the testis during their descent through the inguinal canal and reaches the scrotum by the seventh month of gestation. In the female, the processus extends along the round ligament. Obliteration of the processus vaginalis commences soon after the descent of the testis is completed and continues after birth. Most infants have a patent processus vaginalis several months after birth. Patency has been reported to be 80-94% in the newborn period, 57% in the 4-12-month age group and 20% in adulthood2; this patency is not equivalent to an inguinal hernia and most times it has no clinical relevance.
