[A prospective randomized study on inguinal hernia repair according to the Shouldice technique. Benefits of local anesthesia].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this randomized controlled study was to show whether local anesthesia (LA) leads to a decrease of postoperative pain in inguinal hernia repair in comparison with general anesthesia (AA).


METHODS
Sixty volunteer patients were randomly assigned into a LA group and an AA group. All patients had an unilateral primary inguinal hernia and underwent inguinal hernia repair (Shouldice technique). Methods to determine pain were the visual analog scale (VAS), peak flow measurement, the measurement of the FEV1 %, and analgesic consumption.


RESULTS
Up to the third postoperative day we measured a decreased pain level in the LA group. The anesthesia procedure was never changed. No essential complications occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, it was concluded that local anesthesia has more advantages than general anesthesia.
Friemert
B
B
Chirurgische Abteilung (Leitender Arzt: Prof. Dr. H. Gerngross), Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm. Dr.Benedikt-Friemert@t-online.de
Faoual
J
J
Hölldobler
G
G
Becker
H P
HP
Lampl
L
L
Gerngross
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014147:Tramadol / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014147:Tramadol