For a long time, inguinal hernias have been treated by a traditional open surgery method which has a high potential risk of infection. Additionally, patients suffer from long incisions, not to mention the possibility of omission of the other inguinal hernia. FV Hospital, with the priority of minimally invasive surgery, has applied laparoscopic surgery to treat inguinal hernias in children. Most recently, doctors have successfully performed an inguinal hernia operation by laparoscopic surgical method for patients N.T.M (15 years old, HCMC). N.T.M was taken to FV by his family when a large swelling in his right groin was detected, causing pain every time he encountered a strong bodily movement. This resulted in negative effects on his daily living habits and bodily movement. After examination, the doctor diagnosed that N.T.M had a right inguinal hernia with a 2-cm-wide inguinal hole. In addition, a part of intestinal protruded into the inguinal hole of 10-cm in length.

What’s more is that the patient had a left inguinal hernia surgery 12 years ago in China by open surgery method. “Because open surgery could only check one side, the doctor was unable to detect the inguinal hernia on either side. Had the patient been correctly diagnosed, lateral inguinal hernia surgery would have been performed instead of having to wait for the remaining hernia to show symptoms as present”– Dr Pham Ngoc Thach, PhD. shared, from FV’s Department of Paediatric Urology, who directly carried out the operation. Doctors inserted a small camera and endoscopic instruments through tiny incisions in the abdomen, including a 5 mm-endoscopic trocar in umbilical region and a 3 mm-manipulated trocar in the pelvic hole. After that, the doctor performed an inguinal hernia surgery, brought the ligament and hernia back to the abdomen and closed the hernia. The surgery was successfully carried out after only 45 minutes. The patient felt minimal pain after surgery, was released from the hospital the same day, and was able to eat and walk normally after about 2-3 hours following the procedure.

FV’s application of endoscopy surgery helps improve the effectiveness of treatment for inguinal hernia, while marking a new milestone in the development of the hospital’s endoscopy surgery.