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Inguinal hernias can be repaired under general, regional (spinal or epidural), or local anesthesia.
In a Dutch randomized trial, 100 patients who underwent Lichtenstein open repair received either spinal anesthesia or local infiltration anesthesia. Postoperative pain levels were similar in the two groups, but overnight hospital admission was required more commonly in the spinal group (mainly because of urinary retention). No other important differences in outcome were noted.
Several studies have compared laparoscopic and open repair of inguinal hernias. Swedish surgeons randomized 168 patients to laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernia repair (TEP) or Lichtenstein open repair. Initial short-term results, published in 2003, showed less pos…