EARLY OUTCOMES OF ROBOTIC ENHANCED VIEW TOTALLY EXTRAPERITONEAL VENTRAL HERNIA REPAIR: A SINGLE-CENTER EXPERIENCE.

Abstract

Background: Incisional hernia (IH) is an abdominal wall defect due to a previous laparotomy, and surgical repair is the only treatment. IH has a negative impact on patients' quality of life. In the last decades, the approach has improved from open to laparoscopic and robotic surgery with the objective of promoting better abdominal wall function after reconstruction. Today, robotic enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (reTEP) is one of the most advanced techniques for abdominal wall reconstruction.

Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the early results of patients with incisional hernia submitted to repair with reTEP.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study, and all patients who underwent reTEP surgery for ventral hernia in the years 2021 and 2022 were included. The only exclusion criteria were patients who underwent another type of herniorrhaphy. Statistical analysis was performed using the Stata software.

Results: A total of 32 participants were submitted to reTEP; the majority had an incisional hernia, and according to the European Hernia Society, EUS-M score 3 was the most prevalent. The mean surgical time was 170 min, and the console time was 142 min. Most patients stayed 2 days in the hospital. No intraoperative complications were reported.

Conclusions: reTEP is a safe and effective technique and has favorable outcomes in the early postoperative period. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings.