Intra-operative pain and patient satisfaction during lichtenstein repair under local anesthesia versus spinal anesthesia: an open-label randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To compare pain during surgery among patients undergoing Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) under local anaesthesia (LA) and spinal anaesthesia (SA).

Method: Patients were randomized to undergo LIHR under LA or SA. Both intra-operative and postoperative pain was measured by NRS (numerical rating scale). Postoperative pain was managed similarly in both groups using intravenous diclofenac and paracetamol. Postoperative recovery, time to discharge, and early complications were recorded. Postoperative pain was assessed at 2, 6 and 24 h from the time of skin incision. Patient satisfaction was recorded on 5-point Likert scale 24 h after surgery.

Results: Data of 30 patients of each group were analyzed. All patients successfully underwent operation using anaesthesia technique allocated. Median intra-operative pain was 0 (0,3) in SA and 2.5 (0,5) in LA group. In SA group, intra-operative pain did not exceed NRS 3, while in LA, pain greater than NRS 3 was reported in 30% patients. No patient required tramadol in either group during postoperative period. Minor postoperative complications were reported 9/30 (30%) in SA compared to 1/30 (3.33%) in LA group. The satisfaction rate was 67% in LA group, whereas 37% in SA group.

Conclusion: LA should be strongly considered for all patients with unilateral inguinal hernia undergoing open repair. In spite of a slightly more severe pain during surgery, patient satisfaction was higher using LA.

Trial Registration: This study was conducted as a part of a postgraduate thesis research work. The protocol was submitted to the University of Delhi after approval of the IEC. Registration with the Clinical Trials Registry of India was not successfully done.