Objective：To investigate the preoperative management and principles of therapeutic of inguinal hernia in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Methods：The clinical data of 30 patients with inguinal hernia and liver cirrhosis were analyzed retrospectively. Five cases had emergency operation and 25 had elective operation; 9 cases were treated by conventional inguinal hernia repair and 21 cases were treated by tension-free inguinal herniorrhaphy.
Results：The data included 28 male patients and 2 female patients with median age of 48 years (31-79 years).Of the patients, 24 cases were unilateral indirect hernias, 4 cases were unilateral direct hernias and 2 cases were bilateral indirect hernias. The Child-Pugh grades of liver function were grade A (9 cases), grade B (19 cases), and grade C (2 cases). The operation was performed successfully in all patients. Postoperative wound infection occurred in 2 patients, scrotal hydrocele occurred in 2 patients, incision pain and〖JP+2〗 foreign-body sensation occurred in 2 patients. Of the 2 patients in Child-Pugh grade C, 1 developed mild hepatic encephalopathy and 1 died of liver failure. During the period of 6 to 36 months of follow-up, 1 case lost contact and 2 cases experienced recurrence.
Conclusions：Inguinal hernia in patients with liver cirrhosis should be treated as soon as possible and surgical treatment can improve the patients′ life qualities. Proper preoperative management is crucial to the patients with poor liver function.