Outcomes of hypnosis combined with local anesthesia during inguinal repair: a pilot study

To evaluate the usefulness and outcomes of hypnosis associated with local anesthesia during inguinal hernia repair procedure, notably on post-operative pain.

A prospective study included patients operated on inguinal hernia repair according to Lichtenstein technique from January 2013 to September 2014. The cohort was divided into three groups (group 1: local anesthesia; group 2: hypnosis and local anesthesia; and group 3: general anesthesia). A questionnaire was filled by each participant before and after surgery. Pre-operative apprehension, pain at hospital discharge, surgeon comfort during procedure, immediate satisfaction after hospital discharge, and satisfaction at 1 month after surgery were evaluated.

A total of 103 patients were included in this study (group 1: n = 55; group 2: n = 35; and group 3: n = 13). Pre-operative apprehension and pain at hospital discharge's scores were significantly higher in the group 3 than in the groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). Pain at hospital discharge was significantly lower in the group 2 than in the group 1 (p = 0.03). Pre-operative apprehension, surgeon comfort during procedure, immediate satisfaction after hospital discharge, and satisfaction at 1 month after surgery were similar between groups 1 and 2.

Hypnosis combined with local anesthesia is a feasible technique which allows extending inguinal hernia repair to a large population. There is no complication associated with its use.