In this prospective survey, recovery in hospital and at home was evaluated
in 195 children aged 6 months to 10 years who had undergone herniotomy unde
r spinal anaesthesia as a daycase procedure. Spinal anaesthesia was success
ful in most of the children, with only two patients being given general ana
esthesia. Eighty-three percent of the children had pain at home and 19% had
moderate or severe pain. Eighty-five percent of the children needed pain m
edication at home; the median dose of analgesics was 4 (1-9, 10th and 90th
percentiles). Vomiting was noted in two of 195 children in hospital and in
10 of 192 children at home. Eleven children developed a mild position-depen
dent headache. Most of the children (183/191) recovered their normal daily
activities during the first three postoperative days. We conclude that spin
al anaesthesia is a safe and effective technique for paediatric herniotomy.
Moreover, pain is common following herniotomy and children should be given
analgesics for the first two or three postoperative days.