ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Primary abdominal hernia is a prevalent condition that weighs heavily on human and financial health-care resources (e.g., 1.12% of the total budget of our hospital in 2008). Tension-free hernioplasty is the standard repair procedure, but the anesthetic technique varies, including local anesthesia with sedation (Lsed), regional (Reg), and general (Gen) anesthesia. As the cost-outcome relation of different anesthetic options has never been examined in our health district, we proposed to identify the most cost-effective anesthetic technique out of three options for primary abdominal hernia repair in terms of clinical outcome and health-care economics in this retrospective review. METHODS: The study sample of 400 patients with primary abdominal hernia in 2008 underwent tension-free hernioplasty using one of three anesthetic techniques: 74 Lsed, 283 Reg, and 43 Gen. The comparability of outcomes was ensured by dividing the sample into homogeneous groups according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification (ASA 1 and 2) and adjusting for technical complexity, risk factors, and anatomic location. RESULTS: The clinical outcome of hernioplasty with Lsed was significantly better in terms of shorter hospital stay, lower early- and intermediate-term complication rate, and shorter time to recovery after discharge. The short-term recurrence rate did not differ between groups. The mean cost per hernioplasty procedure was
