The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of day surgery for elderly patients undergoing elective open inguinal hernia repair. Medically stable patients aged 65 years or older, with postoperative care available at home, were randomized to receive treatment either as day-cases or inpatients. Younger day-case patients undergoing the same procedure served as controls. Outcome measures during two postoperative weeks were complications, unplanned admissions and visits to the hospital, unplanned visits to primary health care and patients' acceptance of the type of provided care. The investigators expected to find a higher degree of satisfaction in the patient group receiving day-case care.