Q. Should my 15-year-old son undergo surgery for his inguinal hernia?

Hello doctor,

My 15-year-old son has been complaining of discomfort in his right groin for several months. The pain is not severe or stabbing but rather more discomfort and perhaps very mildly painful for a few moments. We took him to a pediatrician's office, and the doctor did not feel anything abnormal in his testicles but ordered an ultrasound of his right groin (report attached). The ultrasound reported a right inguinal hernia, an opening measuring 0.55 inches. My questions are:

1. Does this usually necessitate surgery? Or a watch and wait until he grows up more.

2. If he needs surgery, what is generally the safer and best approach for a 15-year-old teenager, laparoscopic or open hernia surgery repair?

3. Will he need general anesthesia for surgery?

4. Is this a relatively common thing in his age group?

5. Does he need a CT of the pelvis for follow-up?

He has had a history of asthma since the age of four and used inhalers. He is very skinny, but his height and weight are within normal limits, according to his pediatrician. Otherwise, he is generally healthy.

Thank you.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your response.

1. How long does the patient take to recover after inguinal hernia surgery?

2. Is it a relatively safe procedure?

3. How long does he generally need to be immobile to rest (he will not be able to attend school for a while)?

The radiologist said the lymph node was normal since it was of average shape and size and saw only one. Also, do most surgeons require a CT scan or MRI for pre-surgical reasons? I also attached a photo of the inguinal hernia.

Thank you.