Laparoscopic Findings of Rare Pediatric Inguinal Hernias

Pediatric inguinal hernias are caused to the patency of the processus vaginalis (PPV). The principle for the repair of indirect inguinal hernias in children consists of complete ligation of the PPV. Laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) has spread rapidly since it was reported by some groups from around 1998, and the number of institutions adopting this method as a standard procedure for pediatric inguinal hernia is increasing in Japan. Since the closure of PPV by laparoscopic surgery is popular, rare hernias in children can be observed from the abdominal cavity. We present the laparoscopic findings of rare pediatric inguinal hernias and report their experience.