The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and the safety of hernioplasty under local anesthesia in elderly patients.

A total of 126 elderly patients underwent inguinal hernia repair with mesh under local anesthesia in Guang'an people's hospital between March 2016 and March 2019. Length of hospitalization stay, hospitalization costs and complications were evaluated.

The operation time was 35 to 74 minutes, with an average of (43.4±12.1) minutes; 99 patients (78.6%) were discharged within 48 hours after operation, 20 patients (15.9%) were discharged within 72 hours after operation, and 7 patients (5.6%) were discharged in 3 to 12 days after operation; The length of hospital stay was (2.1±0.6) days, and hospitalization expenses was (3 932±267) yuan. Five patients lost to follow-up after operation, eight patients had postoperative complications (5.4%), three patients (2.4%) had postoperative wound serous exudate, 1 patient (0.8%) had scrotal hematoma, 2 patients (1.6%) had postoperative fever, 1 patient (0.8%) had postoperative hematoma, and 1 patient (0.8%) had recurrence due to repeated urinary retention. The visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain at 4 hours after operation was (3.1±1.4) points. The VAS score at 3 days after operation was (1.6±0.6) points. There were 28 cases (22.2%) with pain, nausea, tension and other discomfort symptoms at the first day after operation, and 5 cases (4.0%) at the third day after operation, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).

After short term clinical observation, inguinal hernia repair with local anesthesia is feasible in older patients.