[Inguinal hernia repair with local anesthesia--a comparative analysis]

Since February 1992 local anaesthesia has been routinely used for repair of inguinal hernias at the Surgical Department of the RWTU Aachen. All 607 patients undergoing Shouldice repair of primary inguinal hernia between January 1990 and March 1993 were retrospectively analysed with reference to need for analgesics, length of stay in hospital, and rate of complications. In addition, 50 patients treated with local anaesthesia and 50 patients treated under general anaesthesia underwent prospective pain analysis using a visual analogue scale and spirometric tests. Following local anaesthesia we found fewer need of analgesics, shorter stays in hospital, and less complications. The pain level was lower and ventilatory function was better. Repair of inguinal hernia with local anaesthesia is a safe method of lowering the risks involved in the operation and improving patient comfort without increasing complications.