title: [Ambulatory hernia surgery].
abstract: Ambulatory surgery for hernia repair is not generally used in Switzerland. Tradition, patients' expectations and the insurance system still favour hospitalization. Nationwide, the mean length of stay amounted to 8.7 days in 1990. A five-year experience is presented, using transversalis fascia repair for uncomplicated unilateral hernia and encouraging immediate ambulation. In 530 patients, the mean duration of hospital stay was 4.4 days. In 446 of these cases, local anesthesia was used, and two thirds of the patients were discharged by the second postoperative day. Thus, it seems possible to gradually approach short-stay surgery for inguinal hernia repair even in Switzerland.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik, Kantonsspital Olten.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grötzinger
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013557:Switzerland
vernacular_title: Ambulante Hernienchirurgie.