Total costs of laparoscopic and lichtenstein inguinal hernia repairs: a randomized prospective study.

In a prospective, randomized study, laparoscopic (n = 20) and Lichtenstein (n = 18) inguinal hernia repairs were compared in relation to operative time, operative costs, hospital stay, postoperative pain, return to work, patient satisfaction, complications, and total costs. All the operations were performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The median operative times in the laparoscopic and Lichtenstein groups were 71.5 (range, 43-140) and 45 (16-83) min, respectively (p < 0.001). Postoperative pain and use of analgesics was less in the laparoscopic group. The median time to return to work was 14 (8-26) days in the laparoscopic group and 19 (5-40) days in the Lichtenstein group. More complications occurred in the Lichtenstein group. The median of the operative costs, in U.S. dollars, was $1,395 and $878, respectively, and the median total costs (including community expenses resulting from lost workdays) were $4,796 in the laparoscopic and $5,320 in the Lichtenstein groups.