Elimination of urinary retention following inguinal herniorrhaphy.

In a group of 880 patients undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy using local anesthesia, the incidence of postoperative urinary retention was 0.2 per cent. During the same period, a similar group of 200 patients had their hernias repaired using general or spinal anesthesia. The incidence of postoperative urinary retention was 13 per cent. The authors contend that the use of local anesthesia in inguinal hernia repair almost eliminates postoperative urinary retention.