How To Repair a Hernia: Local Anaesthesia for Hernia Surgery

A Pioneering Approach

Local Anaesthesia vs General Anaesthesia

Different patients and their hernias have different needs. You may have been turned down for hernia surgery previously because the risk of general anaesthetic is too high. In this case, for example, an open repair using local anaesthetic and sedation could help. Perhaps you are seeking laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery specifically, in which case a general anaesthetic would be required.

We often recommend repairing an open hernia repair using local anaesthetic and sedation. However for some people we recommend a laparoscopic repair using a general anaesthetic instead.

Whatever your situation, we at Hernia Clinic Hampshire want to help you understand the different ways we can repair your hernia, and give you peace of mind about these approaches.

During you consultation, you will discuss your personal needs and options with our highly experienced Consultant Surgeon to make an informed decision on your personalised surgery plan.

What is Local Anaesthesia for Hernia Surgery?

Using local anaesthesia for hernia surgery is our pioneering approach, as devised by our exceptional Consultant Surgeon over many years. In fact, we are one of the only experts in the area using this approach, having perfected the surgery during Covid-19 when there was a higher risk from surgery under general anaesthetic.

This operation takes no more than an hour. The use of local anaesthetic blocks feeling in the area of the hernia and minimises pain, stiffness and generally feeling unwell after surgery.

Open hernia surgery is straight forward and can make hernia surgery accessible for adults of all ages and of all health conditions, especially if you are more frail and, therefore, at a higher risk under general anaesthetic.

Our friendly team is here to support you 02380 970 709

Why We Recommend Local Anaesthesia for Hernia Surgery

When best and safe for the patient, we recommend hernia surgery under a local anaesthetic as opposed to general anaesthetic. This approach helps you get back on your feet as quickly as possible and with as little discomfort as possible.

Local anaesthetic and sedation is more gentle on the body than general anaesthetic. There is less risk of complications with urination and the incidence of chronic discomfort is reduced. Local anaesthetic can only be used with an open repair and cannot be used for laparoscopic surgery.

Our unique approach to your personalised care means that we typically expect you to walk out of the hospital a couple of hours after your operation.

Our approach to hernia treatment means that your recovery can start quicker. In fact many of our patients are able to start our specialised rehabilitation programme by day three after their surgery. This programme is designed by our expert medical team to speed up your recovery.

Our pioneering approach to hernia treatment, our patient-focused care and the excellence of our highly experienced medical team come together to help you to get back to life quicker and achieve the best possible results.

Our patients often have questions about surgery. Here, specialists from our hernia treatment team answer some frequently asked questions:

Is Local Anaesthesia Hernia Surgery Painful?

When using local anaesthesia for hernia surgery, you will have no feeling of pain and surgery will be comfortable. To help you relax, we use sedation.

Some patients stay awake and chat with the team, others nod off and many do a combination of both – asleep at times, awake, relaxed and chatty at other times.

We are even able to test your repair during the operation!

What is Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery?

Laparoscopic hernia surgery, also known as keyhole surgery, involves using cameras to view the surgical area. This surgery can only be performed under general anaesthetic.

You may have heard that the scars from laparoscopic surgery are much smaller than open surgery. The area of tissue cut in to is actually similar to, or even slightly larger in size, than open surgery so recovery time for most one-sided hernias is the same.

Local anaesthesia for hernia surgery or keyhole surgery with general anaesthetic? Diagram showing the different hernia and anaesthetic types.

When to Use General Anaesthetic vs. Local Anaesthetic and Sedation

Most common hernia types are suitable for open surgery under local anaesthetic and sedation. This includes one-sided groin, umbilical, epigastric and smaller incisional hernias, whether it is your first hernia or a previous repair that has recurred.

Particularly large hernias may need a general anaesthetic. Laparoscopic repairs can only be done under general anaesthetic and may be preferable if, for example, you have two hernias you want to repair at the same time.

Bilateral or recurrent hernia repairs are also some cases when a laparoscopic approach might be recommended.

Both approaches use a synthetic mesh, which greatly lowers the risk of recurrence.

What do our patients have to say about their experiences with the different approaches?

I was very nervous about having an open surgery hernia repair under local anaesthetic, but Mr Kirkby-Bott assured me I would be very relaxed and not feel a thing and that is exactly how it went. I’m now 5 weeks post-surgery and feeling great, I have to stop myself from over doing things sometimes as I forget I’ve had the surgery done. Can’t thank Mr Kirkby-Bott enough, he is outstanding in his field of surgery.

Nervous about local anaesthesia for hernia surgery? So was this patient!

We address any concerns and put you at ease just as we did with him.

The initial consultation confirmed to me that Mr Kirkby-Bott was an expert in his field. His explanation of the options and the proposed course of action were very clearly explained without my ever feeling that I was under pressure to agree to what he was proposing.

This inguinal hernia patient, a 77 year old male, came to us because he wanted a specialist surgeon rather than a generalist.

Here are his thoughts on choosing surgery with our Consultant Surgeon.