Inguinal hernia repair in an elderly patient with moderate aortic stenosis under sole epidural anesthesia: A case...

In resource limited settings, epidural anesthesia can be a safe option for elderly patients with aortic stenosis for lower abdominal surgeries as the hemodynamic changes are known to be less as compared to spinal or general anesthesia.

Spinal or general anesthesia in an elderly patient with aortic stenosis is always a challenge for anesthesiologists. It is even more challenging in a resource limited setting. The marked hemodynamic changes associated with either spinal or general anesthesia increase the morbidity and mortality. We present a case of right inguinal hernia in a 71-year-old patient with hypertension, bradycardia, and moderate aortic stenosis planned for open mesh repair under sole epidural anesthesia.