To explore the safety and effectiveness of ambulatory surgery for adult inguinal hernia under the guidance of the concept of fast track surgery.

A prospective study method was used, and 67 patients eligible for inclusion were divided into the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group was treated with ambulatory surgery under the guidance of the concept of fast track r surgery with local infiltration anesthesia. The patients in the control group were routine hospitalized patients with spinal anesthesia. The VAS pain score at 2-hours postoperatively, postoperative ambulation time, postoperative eating or drinking time, the incidence of postoperative complications and the average cost of hospitalization were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Meanwhile, the rate of unplanned readmission within 15 days and delayed discharge rate after ambulatory surgery in the treatment group were recorded.

The VAS pain score at 2-hours postoperatively (3.6±1.1 vs 6.0±1.0), postoperative ambulation time (3.2±1.1 h vs 7.2±1.1 h), postoperative eating or drinking time (2.3±0.9 h vs 7.1±0.9 h) and average hospitalization cost (4060.0±91.3 vs 5635.6±229.0 yuan) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no recurrence after the follow-up of 4~16 months in both groups. There was no unplanned readmission within 15 days and delayed discharge of ambulatory surgery in the treatment group.

It is safe and effective for adult patients with inguinal hernia to receive ambulatory surgery under the guidance of the concept of fast track surgery.