28. Table. Comparison of Open vs Laparoscopic Mesh Repair of Inguinal Hernia in the Veterans Affairs Randomized Controlled Study Open Repair Laparoscopic Repair Use of local anesthesia 11.5% < 1% Intraoperative complications Less frequent (1.9%) More frequent (4.8%) Early postoperative complications 19% 24% Serious complications < 1% 1.1% Recurrence rate at 2 years 4.9% 10.1%