A Pilot Study of Local Anesthesia for Inguinal Hernia Surgery in Older Adults

Patients in the local anesthesia arm will receive an injection of a 50:50 mix of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine and 0.25% Marcaine at the surgical site (in the skin and subcutaneous layers + beneath the external oblique aponeurosis). Patients in the local arm will also receive intravenous sedation (Propofol or Precedex) and pain medication (morphine or fentanyl) at the discretion of the attending anesthesiologist.

General anesthesia will be administered at the discretion of the anesthesiologist and will involve a combination of inhaled and intravenous anesthesia.