Inguinal hernia repair with local anesthesia in the outpatient.

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of inguinal hernia repair with local anesthesia in an outpatient regime, with safety, efficacy and short learning curve.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 454 patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis between November 2004 and August 2008. Of the total number of hernias surgically treated in this period, 285 were operated on the right, 163 on the left and six bilateral.