Inguinal hernia: a common problem of premature infants weighing 1,000 grams or less at birth.

Thirty percent of 37 consecutive surviving premature infants weighing 1,000 gm or less at birth were noted to develop inguinal hernias. Incarceration occurred in two infants. One infant suffered a cardiac arrest during repair of the hernia. In view of the increased survival now being reported in these tiny prematures, it is important that physicians recognize the high incidence and potential hazards of this congenital anomaly in surviving premature infants weighing 1,000 gm or less at birth.