Introduction

With growing awareness of the effects of anesthesia, more patients and doctors are considering the benefits of local anesthesia.

Local anesthesia refers to an anesthetic drug (like lidocaine or marcaine) being injected into the tissue near the surgery site by a needle as opposed to medicine given via IV that affects the brain. Local anesthetics work by numbing the nerve branches around the operative site and do not reach the brain.

Can local anesthesia be used alone for hernia surgery?

Yes for certain hernias and patients (typically smaller hernias and/or thin patients), local anesthesia alone is an option.

Who is a candidate to undergo surgery under only local anesthesia?

Patients who are relatively thin and with straightforward hernias are excellent candidates for local anesthesia. The most important element, however, is patient motivation and mental control. A patient must be calm and motivated to successfully undergo the procedure under local anesthesia. For patients with anxiety, this is generally not a good choice.

What are the alternative types of anesthesia?

Most open inguinal hernia surgery operations can be done under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) — that is, IV sedation. This is a light, yet effective sedation strategy. For laparoscopic and robotic cases, typically general anesthesia is required.

What are the benefits of local anesthesia?

Local anesthesia has the least systemic effects (effects on the entire body) and on the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Patients also can help the surgeon at time of surgery by coughing and tensing abdominal muscles to help the surgeon quickly identify any hernias, the muscle border, and test the repair while the surgical field is open. Furthermore, patients do not require any wake up time and are able to walk right away.

To see if you or your loved one is a candidate for local anesthesia, you may click here to schedule an appointment or obtain a personalized treatment recommendation here.