A 4-year-old boy presents with a reducible, globular swelling at the right groin that appears on crying and disappears on lying down. The swelling is not visible on examination at rest. On applying pressure over the deep inguinal ring, the swelling reappears on coughing. This finding indicates which type of hernia?

• A Indirect inguinal hernia (oblique) ✓
• B Direct inguinal hernia
• C Femoral hernia
• D Hydrocele of the cord

Explanation

In pediatric indirect (oblique) inguinal hernia, the sac enters the inguinal canal through the deep inguinal ring. Applying pressure over the deep ring (at the midpoint of the inguinal canal) controls the hernia and prevents it from appearing on crying or coughing. In a direct inguinal hernia, the sac emerges through Hesselbach's triangle medial to the inferior epigastric vessels, so deep ring pressure does not control it.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.