ABSTRACT
In boys, congenital inguinal hernias are related to descent of the testis through the layers of the abdominal wall. In girls, the analogous diverticulum of processus through the internal ring was first described by Anton Nuck in 1691 and is referred to as the canal of Nuck. The majority of inguinal hernias in infants and children are indirect hernias. Boys are more commonly affected than girls. Inguinal hernia is a high-risk hernia, particularly in early infancy, as it is frequently complicated by incarceration, occasionally leading to intestinal obstruction and strangulation. Laparoscopic hernia repair is an effective and increasingly popular alternative to open herniotomy, but there are multiple variations, including both intracorporeal and extracorporeal techniques. A femoral hernia is a protrusion of preperitoneal fat or viscus through a defect in the femoral canal. An umbilical hernia is very common in infants and young children. Epigastric hernias usually occur in the mid-epigastrium.
