The authors addressed the cost effectiveness of laparoscopic exploration of the contralateral groin in children undergoing inguinal hernia repairs. lap exploration identified a 10% (8/78) rate of contralateral patent processus vaginalis. Assuming all substantial PPV's (defined by the authors as those that could admit a scope, those whose distal aspect could not be visualized, and those that result in gas reaching the scrotum) eventually became hernias, the authors estimated the total cost of contralateral exploration/repair vs. repair when clinical hernias developed in the 8 patients with PPV to be $13,080 and $20,440, respectively. Thus they concluded that contralateral exploration and repair is a cost effective approach to inguinal hernias in children. This did not take into account the expense of the use of laparoscopic instruments.
Lee et al. Journal of Pediatric Surgery (2010);45:793-795
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