Outcomes of hypnosis combined with local anesthesia during inguinal repair: a pilot study

• Published in: Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 59 - 63
• Main Authors: Romain, B., Rodriguez, M., Story, F., Delhorme, J.-B, Brigand, C., Rohr, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01-02-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anesthesia, General; Anesthesia, Local; Cancer; Feasibility Studies; Female; Hernia, Inguinal - surgery; Humans; Hypnosis, Anesthetic; Life Sciences; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Pain Measurement; Pain, Postoperative - etiology; Pain, Postoperative - prevention & control; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; Hypnosis; Local anesthesia; Inguinal hernia repair
• ISSN: 1265-4906; 1248-9204; 1248-9204
• DOI: 10.1007/s10029-016-1521-7

Purpose
To evaluate the usefulness and outcomes of hypnosis associated with local anesthesia during inguinal hernia repair procedure, notably on post-operative pain.
Methods
A prospective study included patients operated on inguinal hernia repair according to Lichtenstein technique from January 2013 to September 2014. The cohort was divided into three groups (group 1: local anesthesia; group 2: hypnosis and local anesthesia; and group 3: general anesthesia). A questionnaire was filled by each participant before and after surgery. Pre-operative apprehension, pain at hospital discharge, surgeon comfort during procedure, immediate satisfaction after hospital discharge, and satisfaction at 1 month after surgery were evaluated.
Results
A total of 103 patients were included in this study (group 1:
n
 = 55; group 2:
n
 = 35; and group 3:
n
 = 13). Pre-operative apprehension and pain at hospital discharge’s scores were significantly higher in the group 3 than in the groups 1 and 2 (
p
 < 0.001). Pain at hospital discharge was significantly lower in the group 2 than in the group 1 (
p
 = 0.03). Pre-operative apprehension, surgeon comfort during procedure, immediate satisfaction after hospital discharge, and satisfaction at 1 month after surgery were similar between groups 1 and 2.
Conclusion
Hypnosis combined with local anesthesia is a feasible technique which allows extending inguinal hernia repair to a large population. There is no complication associated with its use.