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First 100 consecutive robotic inguinal hernia repairs at a Veterans Affairs hospital

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Abstract

The utilization of robotics in general surgery has increased significantly including usage in the Veterans Affairs (VA) system. We implemented a robotic inguinal hernia repair (RIHR) program in our VA hospital and report on initial experience with safety and outcomes. The first 100 consecutive RIHR at a VA hospital were reviewed and compared against the results of contemporaneous open inguinal hernia repair (OIHR). Data were collected for operative characteristics, surgical complications and pain related outcomes. Overall, operative times for OIHR were less than RIHR (83.7 vs. 109.7 min, p < 0.0001); however, there was no difference in operative time for bilateral repairs (121.5 vs. 121.9 min, p = ns). Complication rates were similar between the groups. RIHR patients had less pain at POD 1 than OIHR patients (p = 0.05). RIHR were less likely to have multiple post-op visits for pain than OIHR patients (p = 0.003). RIHR can be implemented in the VA system with acceptable surgical outcomes. RIHR may be associated with less post-operative pain in the early post-operative period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Alyssa K. Kosturakis, Kathryn E. LaRusso, Nels D. Carroll & Michael B. Nicholl

  2. South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Michael B. Nicholl

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  1. Alyssa K. Kosturakis
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  2. Kathryn E. LaRusso
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  3. Nels D. Carroll
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  4. Michael B. Nicholl
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Correspondence to Michael B. Nicholl.

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Alyssa K. Kosturakis MA, Kathryn E. LaRusso MD, Nels D. Carroll MD, Michael B. Nicholl MD declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was waived as per institutional standards for retrospective research.

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Kosturakis, A.K., LaRusso, K.E., Carroll, N.D. et al. First 100 consecutive robotic inguinal hernia repairs at a Veterans Affairs hospital. J Robotic Surg 12, 699–704 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-018-0812-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-018-0812-7

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