BACKGROUND: To present the program and to evaluate the patient's tolerance to herniorrhaphy in an outclinic under local anesthesia. METHODS: Between February 2000 and August 2002, 61 patients with non complicated unilateral inguinal hernia were treated under local anesthesia in an out-clinic at the General Surgery Service of the Mandaqui Hospital. Strict criteria to select patients were observed. Patients were sedated and under continuous monitoring local anesthesia was performed according to the service standardization. The technique to reinforce the abdominal wall was defined considering the type of hernia, age of patient and professional activity. All patients were discharged from hospital in up to 4 hours after the surgery, considering the conditions established by the CFM resolution NR 1.409/94 and observing the precise orientations in regard to possible immediate complications and return to the hospital, if needed. RESULTS: The mean surgical time was 90 minutes. Regarding the type of hernia, according to the Nyhus classification, type III B (36%) prevailed, followed by the types III A (34.5%) and II (26.2%). The most used technique was Liechtenstein's (80.3%). Regarding intraoperative pain, in a scale from 0 to 10, 73.8% of the patients gave marks equal or bellow 3 and 95% stated that they could be submitted to another herniorrhaphy under local anesthesia. CONCLUSION: the surgical treatment of inguinal hernia under local anesthesia in an out-clinic is a safe procedure and it is well accepted by most of the patients when performed in a standardized way.
Hernia, inguinal; Ambulatory surgical procedures; Anesthesia, local