Diagnostic laparoscopy for congenital inguinal hernia.

Repair of indirect inguinal hernias is the most common general surgical procedure in infants and children. The question of whether or not to explore the contralateral side, however, has been the source of much debate among pediatric surgeons. With the advent of laparoscopy and the development of miniature telescopes, diagnostic laparoscopy has been advocated to decide in which child the contralateral side should be explored and a patent processus vaginalis ligated. This article describes the historical perspective in which this technique developed, the technique itself, and a report of the author's experience. Copyright 1998 W.B. Saunders Company.