Introduction: Pain in the postoperative immediate of herniorrhaphy inguinals it is a discovery common to the accomplishment of the procedure. This way, your evaluation after the surgery of hernia correction is for the technique laparoscopic or for the technique of Lichtenstein it is of extreme importance to aid the surgeon in the choice of the most appropriate procedure for each situation.

Objective: To evaluate the intensity of pain on the immediate post operative period after surgical repair of inguinals hernias, comparing the Lichtenstein and the laparoscopic technique (transabdominal preperitoneal – TAPP).

Material and methods: A prospective study was conducted adopting a protocol previously developed by the author, using an Audio Visual Scale (AVS). Patients from both groups (conventional surgery or video laparoscopic surgery), were pared by age, sex and Body Mass Index (BMI). Through the AVS patients determined the intensity of pain (0-10) during the immediate post operatory period (24 hours after surgery was performed). Data analyses were based on t Student test.

Results: Initially, 62 patients were included, however, 22 excluded due to the impossibility of paring. The 40 patients that were enrolled in this study were pared by age, sex and BMI. The patients on the Lichtenstein technique group reported a mean score of 3,9 for the evaluation of pain. Meanwhile, the laparoscopic group had a mean score of 4,1.

Discussion and conclusion: In the present study there was no difference on the intensity of pain caused by conventional or laparoscopic procedures, 24 hours after surgery was performed.