Q: My Dad is 69 years old and has a heart problem as well as a lung problem. Recently he was detected with a hernia in the groin area. The surgeon advised for surgery under general anaesthesia. Considering all the ailments that my father has, do you suggest he should go in for a hernia surgery under GA or under local anaesthesia given in the spine? Shall we go in for laparoscopic hernia repair? What do you suggest?

A:Considering that your father has other medical problems the simplest procedure would be a hernia repair under local anaesthesia with the anaesthetic agent injected at the site of operation. Alternately a regional anaesthesia with the agent injected into the back may also be chosen. Laparoscopic repair is better avoided since it would require general anaesthesia.