An internationally widespread method, completely safe, effective and better tolerated by patients.

“As a method it presents many advantages for patients, emphasizes Mr. Ioannis Kalaitzis Director General Surgeon MD, PhD, Metropolitan Hospital. “Initially,” he continues, “to repair the inguinal hernia, we avoid general, epidural, and spinal anesthesia and use the technique of local anesthesia with intoxicants. Consequently, the patient can be mobilized very quickly, in as little as thirty minutes after the end of the operation, avoiding complications that may be associated with bed rest, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary atelectasis, while being discharged on the same day .

In addition, it is constantly gaining ground worldwide, as it reduces the patient’s stay in the hospital environment to six to eight hours, a feature we are aiming for after the pandemic. During their stay, patients are treated in the short-stay unit and do not come into contact with nursing wards and chronic patients, in order to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections and speed up postoperative recovery. But another advantage of this particular method is its significantly lower cost, compared to the others”, the doctor points out.

Following the “steps” of the operation:
• Before starting, the “point guides” and the incision, which is usually 3 cm, are drawn.
• The anesthetic is applied, in a special anatomical point of the hernia area, approximately 5 minutes before the start of the operation.
• The operation begins to place a mesh, in the presence of an anesthetist, which lasts 30-50 minutes.
• The patient, depending on his wish, can sleep lightly or remain awake and communicate with the surgeon.
• At the end of the operation, the patient goes directly to resuscitation and is mobilized after 15 minutes.
• 3-5 hours after the operation and after being examined by the surgical team, the patient is discharged.

“This method can be applied to all patients and all ages, from 16 to 100 years old. While, it also presents a great benefit to high-risk groups suffering from serious cardiac or respiratory problems, neurological diseases or movement disorders.

This development fills us with optimism, as the resulting benefits for patients are multiple. Through the completely innovative and specialized method of inguinal hernia surgery with local anesthesia, the recovery is very fast and the results so immediate that they make a difference in the lives of the patients, giving a definitive solution to their problem, concludes Mr. Kalaitzis.