Quality of Recovery After General or Spinal Anesthesia for Inguinal Hernia Repair

General anesthesia willl be induced with propofol 2 mg mg. kg-1 and alfentanyl 30 mcg.kg-1. Once an appropriate depth of anesthesia had been obtained, a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) will be positioned. The anesthesia will be maintained by propofol 4 to 5 mg. kg-1.h-1. Ventilation will controlled by adjusting the flow volume and respiratory rate to keep the end-tidal CO2 level (PETCO2) between 30 and 40 mmHg. For local anesthesia, approximately 50 ml of 0.5% ropivacaive will infiltrated along the line of incision in the subcutaneous plane, followed by peripheral nerve block technique (e.g., ilioinguinal-hypogastric nerve block) and local wound infiltration at the fascial level.

Spinal puncture will be performed with the patient in the sitting position, using 27G disposable Quincke needles (B. Braun, Meisungen, AG). After obtaining CSF, 15 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine will be injected.