Aim:Comparisons between open vs laparoscopic surgical methods for inguinal hernia repair have yielded inconsistent results with respect to patients' pain levels and analgesic requirements post-surgery. This study compared open vs laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in terms of types and quantity of analgesics administered during the postoperative recovery period and the hospital stay, including the influences of patient characteristics such as age, BMI, and previous inguinal hernia repair. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study of retrospective analysis of data pertaining to inguinal hernia repairs in a rural hospital in Australia. Results: Among 63 patients (60 males), 62% had undergone open and 38% laparoscopic surgery for inguinal hernia repair. Type and dose of analgesic medications given during both the postoperative recovery period and the hospital ward stay and the duration of the hospital stay were not significantly different between open and laparoscopic groups. However, there were significant influences of BMI, with significantly more overweight and obese patients requiring a combination of opioids with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or paracetamol during the hospital stay, and with obese patients having the longest hospital stay, followed by overweight patients. Patients who had open surgery were significantly older and less likely to have had a previous inguinal hernia repair than those who had laparoscopic surgery, and there was a significant correlation between age and duration of hospital stay. Conclusion:Patient characteristics of age, BMI, and previous inguinal hernia repair are confounding factors when comparing analgesic requirements and hospital stay duration after open vs laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.