Background: In previous comparisons of inflammatory and stress responses to open (OR) and laparoscopic (LR) hernia repair, all operations were performed under general anesthesia. Since local anesthesia is widely used for OR, a comparison of this approach with LR seemed relevant.
Methods: Patients with recurrent inguinal hernia were randomized to OR under local anesthesia (n = 30) or LR under general anesthesia (n = 31). The magnitude of the surgical trauma was assessed by measuring markers of coagulation (prothrombin fragment 1 + 2), endothelial activation (von Willebrand factor), inflammation [leukocytes, interleukin-6, -8 and -10, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and C-reactive protein (CRP)], and endocrine stress (cortisol) in blood collected before operation, 4 h postincision, and on postoperative day 2.
Results: Leukocyte counts and interleukin-6 and CRP levels increased in both groups, with the CRP increase being significantly greater in the OR group. The other markers did not increase significantly.
Conclusion: The acute phase response was more pronounced after OR, even when this was done under local anesthesia. Both techniques seemed rather atraumatic.