Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair under spinal anesthesia: a study of 480 patients

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TEP) is conventionally performed under general anesthesia (GA), and regional anesthesia is usually preferred in patients where GA is contraindicated. In this paper, we present our experience of over 8 years of using spinal anesthesia (SA) as the first choice with the contention that it is a better alternative to GA.

SA was used in 480 patients over the last 8 years, and 464 patients underwent unilateral TEP. Strangulated and obstructed hernia patients were excluded, but irreducible hernia patients were included. Sedation was given if required, and the conversion to GA was done in patients not responding to sedation or with failure of SA. Comparative control included TEP performed under GA in our initial 49 patients.

Three (0.63%) patients required a conversion to GA. Hypotension requiring support was recorded in 75 (15.63%) patients. Postoperatively, 2.08% (10) patients had vomiting, as compared to 30.61% (15 patients) in patients administered GA. In all, 35.83% (172) of patients required injectable diclofenac for their abdominal pain within 2 hours postoperatively, and oral analgesic was required in 301 (62.71%) patients within the first 24 hours, while 89.80% (44) patients operated an under GA required injectable analgesics in the immediate postoperative period and subsequent oral analgesia request was the same as in patients with SA. Postural headache, persisting for an average of 2.6 days, was seen in 25 (5.21%) patients postoperatively. Average time to discharge was 2.3 days. Kernofsky's performance status showed a 98.6% satisfaction level in patients.

TEP done under SA has a number of advantages over GA and should be used routinely.