One-stage bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy in the adult.

Between 1977 and 1981, the author treated 141 consecutive patients with uncomplicated bilateral inguinal hernia by one-stage bilateral herniorrhaphy. He has compared the results with those from 141 comparable age-matched patients with unilateral hernia treated over the same period. There was no increase in morbidity with the one-stage bilateral procedure. There were no deaths in either group. One-stage bilateral herniorrhaphy has several advantages: (a) only one anesthetic and operating session are required, thus saving the patient the stress of waiting for a second operation, and there is considerable financial saving to the patient; (b) more efficient use is made of hospital beds; and (c) the small risk of strangulation on the unoperated side is avoided.