Laparoscopic Total Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair Under Epidural Anesthesia Versus General Anesthesia

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair is a well-known approach to inguinal hernia repair. The present study aims to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the TEP technique under general anesthesia (GA) and epidural anesthesia (EA).

The patients were divided into 2 groups as those undergoing TEP under EA (Group 1) and those undergoing TEP under GA (Group 2). The 2 patient groups were compared in terms of sex, age, body mass index data, duration of surgery, total operation time, patient satisfaction, VAS scores (1, 4, 12, and 24 h), length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications.

The number of patients operated under EA (Group 1) was 30, and the number of patients operated under GA (Group 2) was 32. Only in the postoperative first hour VAS scores was statistically significantly less and the need for analgesia evaluated in both groups was found to be statistically significantly lower in Group 1 (P<0.001). The mean operation time was recorded as 62 and 46.50 minutes in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, which was statistically significantly shorter in Group 2 (P<0.001). There was no difference between the 2 groups regarding complications, hospital stay, recovery, or surgery time. Conversion rate is 0 in both groups.

Lower postoperative VAS scores and lower postoperative VAS scores and lower analgesic used requirements of EA, it is thought that EA can be safely applied in the TEP procedure as an alternative in patients who cannot be administered GA.