Monitoring
Watchful waiting is an acceptable treatment option in a patient with minimally symptomatic inguinal hernia, as the risk of bowel obstruction and strangulation is very low.[2][57] However, a large proportion of these patients will develop symptoms over a 5 to 10 year period and choose to undergo repair.[11][58][59] Such patients should receive follow-up at 6-monthly intervals. Patients that eventually develop symptoms and undergo repair at a later time are not at higher risk because of having waited.
Patients are usually seen only once following surgery, unless there are complications.
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