A Pilot Study of Local Anesthesia for Inguinal Hernia Surgery in Older Adults

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age60+
SponsorUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison

About this trial

The purpose of this study is to collect data about local versus general anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair in Veterans aged 60 years for planning a larger, multisite randomized clinical trial. Approximately 80 participants will be enrolled and can expect to be on study for 6 months.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Age greater than or equal to 60 years

Presenting to clinic with a unilateral inguinal hernia that is not incarcerated

Considered suitable for either general or local anesthesia

Willing to complete all study requirements, including follow-up continuing until six months after surgery

Disqualifiers

The hernia that the patient is being evaluated for has undergone prior repair

Any contraindications to general anesthesia

Allergies to local anesthesia

Evidence of hernia incarceration or strangulation

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Open Inguinal Hernia Repair - Local Anesthesia

    Other intervention

    Patients in the local anesthesia arm will receive an injection of a 50:50 mix of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine and 0.25% Marcaine at the surgical site (in the skin and subcutaneous layers + beneath the external oblique aponeurosis). Patients in the local arm will also receive intravenous sedation (Propofol or Precedex) and pain medication (morphine or fentanyl) at the discretion of the attending anesthesiologist.

  • Inguinal Hernia Repair - General Anesthesia

    Other intervention

    General anesthesia will be administered at the discretion of the anesthesiologist and will involve a combination of inhaled and intravenous anesthesia.

Treatment groups

80 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groups
Group A: Open Inguinal Repair- Local anesthesiaExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Inguinal Hernia Repair- General AnesthesiaActive comparator 1 intervention
Group C: Observational: Standard of CareNo intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Rates of enrollment and percentage of eligible patients enrolled

Each week, research assistants will compile running counts of patients screened, found eligible, and enrolled.

Time frame
Through study completion, estimated 2 years
2

Proportion of participants completing all study visits

Assistants will maintain counts of participants who complete each study visit.

Time frame
Through study completion, estimated 2 years
3

Proportion of missing data

At each visit, every study visit will be entered into our electronic database and missing items will have a separate code number.

Time frame
Through study completion, estimated 2 years
4

Time to complete study evaluations and instruments

Assistants will time participants while completing each study research form and will time the entire encounter.

Time frame
Time from beginning to end of completing study instrument, up to 2 hours

Secondary outcomes

1

Carolinas Comfort Scale Score

The Carolinas Comfort Scale measures quality of life. Possible scores range from 1-6 for each item, with higher scores indicating increased quality of life.

Time frame
Measured at baseline, 48 hours after surgery, 2 weeks after surgery, 6 months after surgery
2

Physical Function Score

The patients' ability to perform their activities of daily living will be measured with the 6 item Katz index. This scale is from 0-6, with higher scores indicating more functional independence.

Time frame
Measured at baseline, 48 hours after surgery, 2 weeks after surgery, 6 months after surgery
3

Trail Making Test

Trail Making Test will be used to measure cognitive function. The time to complete the trail making test is measured, with those taking greater than expected time being considered deficient.

Time frame
Measured at baseline, prior to discharge, 48 hours after discharge, 2 weeks after surgery, 6 months after surgery
4

Montreal Cognitive Assessment

Montreal Cognitive Assessment 5 minute form to measure cognitive function. For the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the successfully completed skills are added to achieve a final score from 0-30, with higher numbers indicating closer to normal cognitive function.

Time frame
Measured at baseline, prior to discharge, 48 hours after discharge, 2 weeks after surgery, 6 months after surgery

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead sponsor

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

American Federation for Aging Research

Collaborator

The John A. Hartford Foundation

Collaborator