Segmental Epidural Anaesthesia for Inguinal Hernia Repair – A Clinical Study

<h3><strong>Segmental Epidural Anaesthesia for Inguinal Hernia Repair – A Clinical Study</strong></h3> <p>This research article evaluates the safety, efficacy, and hemodynamic stability of <strong>low-dose segmental epidural anaesthesia</strong> for inguinal hernia repair. Conventional epidural techniques often require higher volumes of local anaesthetic, which may contribute to hypotension and other complications—especially in elderly patients. This study investigates whether a targeted, low-volume approach can provide effective surgical anaesthesia with fewer side effects.</p> <p>A <strong>prospective clinical study</strong> was conducted on <strong>60 ASA I–II patients</strong> aged 18–70 years undergoing elective inguinal hernia repair. A segmental epidural block was administered at the <strong>L1–L2</strong> level using <strong>5–6 mL of 0.5% Bupivacaine</strong>, aiming to restrict the block to T12–L2 dermatomes.</p> <h3><strong>Key Findings</strong></h3> <ul> <li> <p>Mean onset of analgesia: <strong>7.8 minutes</strong></p> </li> <li> <p>Mean duration: <strong>162 minutes</strong></p> </li> <li> <p>Analgesic quality: <strong>Excellent/Good in 85%</strong> of patients</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Hemodynamic stability</strong> maintained throughout surgery</p> </li> <li> <p>Minor side effects only (shivering 5%, sweating 8.3%)</p> </li> <li> <p>Overall success rate: <strong>96.6%</strong></p> </li> </ul> <h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3> <p>Low-dose segmental epidural anaesthesia is a <strong>safe, effective, and reliable</strong> alternative for inguinal hernia repair, minimizing drug requirement and reducing the risk of hypotension. This technique is particularly beneficial for <strong>elderly or comorbid patients</strong>, providing adequate surgical analgesia with minimal complications.</p> <h3><strong>Keywords</strong></h3> <p>Epidural anaesthesia; Segmental epidural; Inguinal hernia repair; Bupivacaine; Hemodynamic stability; Regional anaesthesia.</p> <h3><strong>Citation</strong></h3> <p>Shah M.N., Mirza U., Hassan K.A., Rahman S.A. <em>Segmental Epidural Anaesthesia for Inguinal Hernia Repair – A Clinical Study</em>. European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. 2025; 15(9): 893–897.</p>