title: A measurement of the ability to drive after different types of inguinal hernia repair.
abstract: Recovery following different types of inguinal hernia repair has been objectively assessed by measuring reaction times when the subject performs an emergency stop in a driving simulator. A control group of patients who underwent varicose vein surgery to the groin under general anaesthetic without any muscle dissection demonstrated no alteration in response times. Eighty-two percent of those who underwent laparoscopic repair and 64% of those who underwent Lichtenstein repair returned to their preoperative times by 7 days after surgery. There was no difference in recovery of response times after Lichtenstein repair performed under local or general anaesthetic, in comparison with 33% of patients after Bassini repair. These results may influence the advice given by surgeons to patients after inguinal hernia surgery.
authors.affiliation: Stockport Unit for Minimally Invasive Therapy, Stepping Hill Hospital, England.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iddon
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Deans
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Brough
mesh_terms: D001334:Automobile Driving; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011930:Reaction Time; D013997:Time Factors