[Use of ilio-inguinal iliohypogastric nerve block for herniorraphy: a prospective study in a 35-case series at the Lome University Hospital Center in Togo].

The purpose of this prospective-descriptive study was to evaluate the quality of anaesthesia and analgesic effect achieved by ilio-inguinal iliohypogastric nerve block (IINB) in patients undergoing herniorraphy. Study was carried out over a 6-month period in the Anaesthesia Intensive Care Department of the Lomé University Hospital Centre in Togo. All patients indicated for unilateral herniorraphy were enrolled. A total of 35 patients underwent herniorraphy with IINB. Mean patient age was 32 years. Farmers accounted for 57% of the population. Men accounted for 86.7%. The anaesthesia classification was ASA I or II in 88.6% of cases. Complete sensory block was obtained within 15 minutes after induction in 71.43% of cases. Additional sedation using ketamine and/or fentanyl was used in 51.43% of cases. Conversion from IINB to general anaesthesia was necessary in three cases including 2 due to extension of the surgical incision and one for the surgeon's convenience. The mean duration of the procedure was 70 minutes. Intraoperative complications included nausea in one case, dizziness in 2 cases, and bitterness in mouth in 3 cases. Postoperatively, extension to the femoral nerve was observed in 2 cases. Five patients presented a visual analogue pain scale (VAS) > or = 4 within 18 hours after the procedure. This study shows that IINB is a useful alternative to general anaesthesia for herniorraphy. Specific training is necessary to allow more widespread use.