Your doctor will apply pressure and push the hernia back through the internal ring. Following successful reduction, surgery is delayed for one to two days until swelling of the sac subsides. Only rarely will a reducible hernia contain injured or dead intestine. If reduction fails, surgery is performed without delay. A child with one inguinal hernia has an increased risk of developing another one on the opposite side.
Opinion is divided about exploring the asymptomatic side at the time of unilateral hernia repair.
The operation consists of tying off the sac at the internal ring, to close the open processus. Unlike adults, children do not routinely need to have the hernia floor closed. The operation is generally performed on an outpatient basis. Some pediatric surgeons prefer to operate on all inguinal hernias whenever they are diagnosed. However, in the absence of symptoms, many recommend a delay until three months of age for term infants and longer for premature infants.