Inguinal Hernia (Hydrocele)
What is a hydrocele?
What is a hernia?
About the operation
After the operation
Caring for your child at home
When to call the doctor
What is a hydrocele?
Before a baby is born, he has a small opening in the muscle on the lower part of his belly. This opening should close before the baby is born. If it doesn't, fluid can drain through the hole from the belly into the scrotum, forming what is called a hydrocele.
What is a hernia?
If the opening in the muscle is large enough, the intestines — which are normally in the belly — can slide through the opening, forming what is called a hernia, a bulge or swelling in the groin area, or in the scrotum in boys. Hernias are most often seen in babies, but can also occur in older children. Babies and small children may have hernias on both sides of the groin or scrotum, even if you can only see a hernia on one side.
Most of the time, a hernia may look strange, but it isn't an emergency. It can be an emergency if the intestines slide through the opening and can't move back into the belly. You should take your child to his doctor right away if the hernia becomes very hard, or if he's vomiting or feels sick to his stomach.
About the operation
If your child has a hernia, a pediatric surgeon will repair it while your child is asleep in the operating room. Your child will get medicine to help him to sleep. Once he goes to sleep, the surgeon will make an incision in the groin area so he can find the hernia.
If your child has a hydrocele, the surgeon will drain the fluid from the area. If your child has a hernia, the surgeon will push the intestines back into place, then stitch the opening in the belly muscle. The stitches will be under the skin and don't need to be removed. The doctor will put medicine into the area to make it numb.
After the operation
After your child wakes up, she'll be taken to the recovery room. Usually, most children have the surgery and go home on the same day. If your child was born early or has other health problems, she may need to stay overnight.
While your child is in the day surgery area, she'll be offered something to drink before she goes home. She can eat and drink normally later in the day, when she's feeling better.
Caring for your child at home
Here's what you need to know about your child's recovery at home:
- Incisions: your child's incision(s) will be covered with one of the following:
- DERMABOND, a clear glue-like material that will peel off on its own and needs no special care.
- Small strips of tape called STERI-STRIPS, which may be covered by gauze and a clear dressing. Again, let this dressing fall off on its own.
- Pain: your child may have some pain or feel fussy. Give him children's acetaminophen (TYLENOL, PANADOL, TEMPRA) every four hours on the day of surgery, then every four hours as needed.
- Activities: your child may begin normal activities when she feels better. She may bathe or shower the day after surgery. If she attends school, she may return to school a day or two after surgery, but shouldn't participate in gym or sports until after her surgery follow-up appointment.
- Follow-up: be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment with the surgeon in two weeks.
When to call the doctor
Be sure to call your child's surgeon's office (at Children's Hospital, you should call 215-590-2730) if:
- Your child shows any signs of infection:
- Redness along or yellow or green drainage from the incision
- Swelling
- Your child's pain gets any worse and doesn't get better with acetaminophen
- The incision is bleeding
- Your child has a fever higher over 1010F degrees under the arm or 1020F degrees by mouth or rectally
- You have any questions or concerns
Reviewed by: Surgical Advanced Practice Nurses
Date: November 2008
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