OBJECTIVE: To investigate postural stability in patients after inguinal herniorrhaphy under local infiltration anaesthesia, to see if the anaesthetics and analgesics used influenced it and therefore hindered early discharge. DESIGN: Open study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 55 patients listed for elective inguinal herniorrhaphy. INTERVENTIONS: Preoperative and intraoperative infiltration anaesthesia by bupivacaine 2.5 mg/ml (median dose 41 ml, range 30-84 ml), and sedation with midazolam intraoperatively (median dose 3 mg, range 0-10 mg). Lichtenstein tension-free technique with polypropylene mesh repair (Prolene). Measurement of postural stability before operation and 30 and 60 minutes afterwards using the "Basic Balance Master" system, and balance assessed by visual analogue scale and verbal rating scale. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postural stability and subjectively assessed balance. RESULTS: Dynamic postural stability was impaired 30 min (p < 0.05), but not 60 minutes postoperatively. All but two patients were discharged shortly after the measurement at 60 minutes, because of pain in one and an attack of asthma in the other. Balance also returned to normal within an hour. CONCLUSION: Objectively measured postural stability and subjectively assessed balance return to normal within 60 minutes after inguinal herniorrhaphy under local infiltration anaesthesia, thereby permitting early discharge.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate postural stability in patients after inguinal herniorrhaphy under local infiltration anaesthesia, to see if the anaesthetics and analgesics used influenced it and therefore hindered early discharge. DESIGN: Open study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 55 patients listed for elective inguinal herniorrhaphy. INTERVENTIONS: Preoperative and intraoperative infiltration anaesthesia by bupivacaine 2.5 mg/ml (median dose 41 ml, range 30-84 ml), and sedation with midazolam intraoperatively (median dose 3 mg, range 0-10 mg). Lichtenstein tension-free technique with polypropylene mesh repair (Prolene). Measurement of postural stability before operation and 30 and 60 minutes afterwards using the "Basic Balance Master" system, and balance assessed by visual analogue scale and verbal rating scale. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postural stability and subjectively assessed balance. RESULTS: Dynamic postural stability was impaired 30 min (p < 0.05), but not 60 minutes postoperatively. All but two patients were discharged shortly after the measurement at 60 minutes, because of pain in one and an attack of asthma in the other. Balance also returned to normal within an hour. CONCLUSION: Objectively measured postural stability and subjectively assessed balance return to normal within 60 minutes after inguinal herniorrhaphy under local infiltration anaesthesia, thereby permitting early discharge.