[Spinal anesthesia in the surgery of inguinocrural hernias].

The experience in the surgical treatment of inguinal and crural hernias with epidural and subarachnoidal anaesthesia over a period of fifteen years (1976-1989) is reported. Results obtained in 1,283 cases confirm the validity of the technique and the clinical course suggests that it could well be applied to cardiopathic, hypertensive, obese, bronchopneumopathic patients as well as to dysmetabolic diseases. Furthermore, advantages of spinal anaesthesia compared to general and local anaesthesia are emphasized. The use of ultrathin needles (24 gauge) in performing subarachnoidal anaesthesia is recommended to prevent headache.