Comparison post-operative pain between local and general anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair

Abstract

         This study aimed to compare pain and complications after inguinal hernia surgery using local anesthesia compared to surgery using general anesthesia. The study was conducted by a retrospective cohort of 40 inguinal hernia patients who underwent surgery at Uthumporn Phisai Hospital, Sisaket Province, between December 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023. Data were collected using questionnaires and medical records. Data were analyzed using simple statistics and comparisons.
           The results of the study found that 40 patients met the criteria, 40 of whom were male (100%), with a mean age of 53.7 years. 22 patients underwent surgery using local anesthesia (55%), and 18 patients under general anesthesia (45%). The results showed that the group that underwent surgery using local anesthesia had postoperative pain in the first 6 hours of 2.55±0.85 points, which was 4.61±0.618 points lower than the group under general anesthesia. Significantly (p<0.005) after 6 hours of pain, there was no difference between the 2 groups. The patients in the group operated by local anesthesia had a postoperative recovery time of 26.36±10.14 minutes, which was less than the group that received general anesthesia at 153.30±32.36 minutes (p<0.005). In the group that used local anesthesia, there was no effect on the circulatory system, which was significantly less than the group that used general anesthesia at 4 cases (22.22%) (p<0.005).
          The conclusion from the study found that inguinal hernia surgery by local anesthesia had less postoperative pain in the first 6 hours than the group that operated by general anesthesia. The patients had a shorter recovery period and no effect on the circulatory system. It can be used as an alternative treatment, especially in groups with high surgical risk. Other complications were not different from treatment using general anesthesia.