Treatment of asymptomatic inguinal hernias.

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common operations in general surgery with rates of repair ranging from 10 per 10,000 population in the United Kingdom to 28 per 10,000 in the United States. Most inguinal hernias cause mild to moderate discomfort, which increases with activity. Up to one-third of the patients with an inguinal hernia scheduled for surgery have an asymptomatic swelling. Inguinal hernias are a significant socioeconomic burden with direct costs to the health service and indirect costs to the economy due to time off work following operation. In addition, the morbidity associated with the operation is often underestimated. Therefore, it is important to critically review the risks and complications related to inguinal hernia repair in those with minimal symptoms to formulate the best management strategy for these patients.