A measurement of the ability to drive after different types of inguinal hernia repair.

Recovery following different types of inguinal hernia repair has been objectively assessed by measuring reaction times when the subject performs an emergency stop in a driving simulator. A control group of patients who underwent varicose vein surgery to the groin under general anaesthetic without any muscle dissection demonstrated no alteration in response times. Eighty-two percent of those who underwent laparoscopic repair and 64% of those who underwent Lichtenstein repair returned to their preoperative times by 7 days after surgery. There was no difference in recovery of response times after Lichtenstein repair performed under local or general anaesthetic, in comparison with 33% of patients after Bassini repair. These results may influence the advice given by surgeons to patients after inguinal hernia surgery.