Peri‐operative outcome for day‐case laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repair

This study documents the results obtained in 30 day patients undergoing open hernia repair under local infiltration block with patient-controlled sedation (group A) and 29 day patients undergoing laparoscopic hernia repair under general anaesthesia (group B). The mean operating time was less in group A (44.8 min) compared with group B (66.6 min) (p < 0.0001). Similarly, stage 1 recovery room times were longer in group B (98.1 min) than group A (45.1 min) (p < 0.0001). Time to discharge for group A (139.1 min) was significantly shorter than group B (224.2 min) (p < 0.002), with more peri-operative complications occurring in group B and greater analgesic requirements. An open inguinal hernia repair under local infiltration block is the optimal approach for unilateral non-recurrent herniae as a day surgical procedure. These results have important cost and efficiency implications.