Early discharge following hernia repair in unselected patients.

The feasibility and safety of early discharge from hospital following inguinal hernia repair in selected patients is well established. The following is an account of 104 unselected patients who presented consecutively to an Inner London hospital with inguinal hernias. The intention was to discharge all patients 48 h after operation, but for a variety of reasons a later discharge day was planned preoperatively in 50. Of the 104 patients, 62 (60 per cent) were discharged on the planned day, but only 23 per cent left hospital 48 h after operation. The factors which accounted for this are discussed. It was possible, however, to discharge over 85 per cent within 5 days of operation.