Outpatient repair of inguinal hernia

Fifty men with hernias were operated on as outpatients: 42 went home the evening after surgery. The best results were obtained in patients with unilateral indirect hernias; those with direct hernias did not do quite as well. No patient required readmission to the hospital for complications. The cost was significantly less than that for adults operated on as inpatients. The outpatient approach is now being used for elective repair of inguinal hernias in all adult male patients.