[Ambulatory surgical treatment of uncomplicated inguinal hernia with minimal local anesthesia]

At a time when scientific progress is to the forefront in the field of anesthesia, by the increased knowledge and use of anesthetic drugs and their antidotes, and by the increasing sophistication of anesthetic and intensive care apparatuses, it could appear absurd to wish to make local anesthesia in treatment of uncomplicated inguinal hernia a commonplace procedure. However, confronted with the usual risks of general anesthesia and the minimal incidence of accidents after local injection of 2% xylocaine, the authors have developed a technique of infiltration of certain key-zones to ensure maximum effectiveness of 4 to 6 cc of the compound. Results are reported of the use of the method in 100 ambulatory patients, age range 15 to 70 years, of both sexes. A full discussion on the procedure adopted follows a brief summary of the anatomy and nerve supply of the inguinal region.