Short-stay hernia surgery with local analgesia

This article documents the management of hernia operations in a Zambian General Hospital. Over a period of 28 months between 1979 and 1982, 146 patients were operated upon; 16 were managed under a general anaesthetic, eight with ketamine hydrochloride and 22 with spinal analgesia. The rest--100 patients--underwent repair with local analgesia. There were two surgical readmissions; the few who were readmitted for various other reasons have not been included. No recurrences were noted during the period of study. Morbidity was minimal and known surgical mortality was nil.