Patient evaluation and complications of day-case herniorrhaphy under local anaesthetic

One hundred patients having primary herniorrhaphy performed under local anaesthetic as day cases were reviewed 7-10 days after operation and then at a mean time of 4 years and 10 months (range of 3 years and 3 months to 6 years and 10 months) after operation, by a postal questionnaire which had a response rate of 80%. A low incidence of complications was shown and only 13% of patients requested a visit from their General Practitioner. The majority (90%) stated a preference for having a similar procedure conducted in the same way at the initial and subsequent follow-up.