Hi. Thanks for your query. Noted the history regarding your Father who is 77 years old and has hernia which your Doctor has advised open operation for. Yes, with advancing age the laparoscopy becomes a bit risky and hence open operation is preferred as it can be done under spinal or local anesthesia. It will be open hernioplasty means repair of the hernia and strengthening with prolene mesh. This is a routine procedure and can be done perfectly by a senior surgeon. Care to be taken: Avoid constipation and chronic coughing patients. rest for 3 weeks for the healing to be better. Check for his hemoglobin and serum proteins and if less get corrected then only surgery to be done. Take medical fitness by showing to the Physician . If everything goes well, there is no chance of any complications as are in most of the patients. So go ahead with pre-operative fitness.