While any surgical procedure carries some risks, Robotic Hernia Surgery is very safe when performed by an experienced surgeon. Patients can reduce their risk of complications by preparing for hernia surgery, including staying hydrated and eating high-fiber foods to prevent constipation.
Hernia repair surgery requires delicate dissection of the abdominal wall to expose the hernia and create space for a synthetic mesh. This is a complex task that requires skill and experience.
Lower Risk Of Complications
The fewer and smaller incisions used during robotic hernia surgery mean less tissue damage. This reduces the risk of complications and infection and also improves the ability of surgeons to see and work in a challenging space.
During hernia repair surgery, a section of the abdominal wall called the peritoneum is delicately dissected away to allow for access to the hernia site. This is a challenging maneuver and requires considerable skill and experience. In robotic hernia surgery, the robot’s arms can do this for surgeons, allowing them to operate with much greater precision and dexterity.
This means hernias can be repaired with more accuracy than in a laparoscopic procedure. It also reduces the risk of complications like mesh migration or shrinkage that can cause pain and hernia recurrence.
In addition, the robotic system’s 3D high-definition view of the surgical area allows for improved visibility. This makes it easier for surgeons to place the mesh accurately and avoid contact with vital structures such as the bowel or intestines.
It is important to consider how experienced your surgeon is with robotic hernia surgery before choosing this option for your hernia repair. Talk to your doctor about how long they have been using the robot and how many hernias they perform a week, month, or year on average. Then ask about their results and whether they have any data to show you that their approach is better than laparoscopy.
Less Pain
The minimally invasive nature of robotic hernia surgery results in less pain and a shorter recovery period. It also allows patients to return to regular activity much sooner than those who undergo traditional surgery. Most hernia repair patients can resume light aerobic exercise such as walking within a week after their operation and are often discharged from the hospital the same day or the next day.
During robot-assisted hernia surgery, your surgeon makes small incisions near the site of the hernia. Then, a long, thin camera and surgical instruments are passed through these incisions to perform the surgery. Your surgeon controls the robot while sitting at a console a few feet away from your bed, and an assistant remains by your side to help with instrument exchanges.
While robotic hernia surgery has a low rate of complications, it does carry some risks, just like any type of surgery. These include the potential for infection, bleeding, reactions to anesthesia, or a recurrence of the hernia.
Most robotic hernia surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain during your procedure. Once your surgery is over, you will likely need to take medications to manage postoperative pain and discomfort.
After your hernia repair surgery, it is important to eat plenty of healthy foods and drink lots of water to promote healing and keep your body strong. Some people may experience bloating after the surgery, which is caused by the CO2 insufflated into the abdomen and sluggishness of bowel function from narcotics and general anesthesia. This bloating usually goes away once your bowel habits return to normal. Using a stool softener and taking fiber supplements can help speed up this process.
Shorter Hospital Stay
As surgeons, we are always looking for new ways to improve our patients’ experiences and outcomes. Surgical innovations like robotics have been a major advancement in hernia surgery by allowing our doctors to repair hernias through smaller incisions. The use of this technology reduces the risks associated with open surgery and allows patients to return to their normal activities faster.
A 2018 study published in the Annals of Surgery showed that hernias repaired through robotic hernia surgery required a shorter hospital stay than those surgically repaired through laparoscopic hernia repair. However, this study is a database study and not a randomized controlled trial, which means that the results could be due to other factors than just the surgery technique.
With robotic hernia surgery, our surgeons make small incisions through which a long, thin camera and surgical instruments are placed. They are then able to see high-definition, 3D images with precision. This provides greater visualization of anatomical structures and enables our surgeons to work more efficiently.
Once your surgeon has set up the robot, they will sit at a console a few feet away from you and control the movement of the instruments. They will also have an assistant or resident at your bedside to help them with instrument exchanges when needed. This allows your hernia surgeon to optimize the repair with minimal disruption.
Although robotic hernia surgery requires a slightly longer hospital stay than laparoscopic hernia repairs, our patients experience less pain and have a quicker recovery time. They often leave the hospital the same day or the next day. We do ask that our patients take it easy for a few weeks after the procedure, but most are back to normal activity within a week or two.
Less Blood Loss
With robotic hernia surgery, less blood is lost than with traditional open surgery. This is because the robot allows surgeons to operate with precision, which helps prevent bleeding during and after hernia repair. The surgeon can also control the amount of tissue they cut and stitch, reducing the chance of excess bleeding.
Using the da Vinci robot for hernia repair offers many benefits for patients. For example, it is an extremely minimally invasive procedure, which means you will experience less pain and discomfort, a faster recovery time, and reduced scarring. In addition, the robot provides your surgeon with a greater range of motion and better visualization than laparoscopic surgery.
To perform robotic hernia surgery, your doctor will make several small incisions to insert a camera and surgical instruments. They will then connect the robotic console to the trocars via a video monitor. The robot’s arms mimic the movements of your surgeon’s hands, which increases accuracy and reduces the risk of complications.
The da Vinci system provides a high-definition 3D view of the surgical site, which helps your surgeon fix the hernia correctly. The robot’s arms are also able to move more quickly and precisely than a human wrist, which makes it easier for the surgeon to operate.
The hernia surgery itself is very safe, but like any type of operation, there are risks. These include the possibility of infection, reactions to the anesthesia, and the hernia coming back (recurrence). If you are considering hernia repair surgery, talk with your doctor about your options and what results to expect. You should also ask about whether robotic hernia surgery is right for you based on your current health, the type of hernia you have, and your surgeon’s skill with the procedure.
Faster Recovery
With less damage and scarring to the tissue, recovery is much faster than with traditional surgery. Patients are often back to work and routine activities within two weeks of a robotic hernia repair procedure.
When compared to laparoscopic hernia repairs, robotic procedures offer similar benefits but with a shorter hospital stay and lower risk of complications. This minimally invasive technique uses small keyhole incisions and allows for more precision than the standard open surgical approach.
The surgeon is seated next to the patient and controls the robot’s arms through hand and foot controls. The robot’s camera provides real-time 3D images of the area being operated on.
Once the surgeon has a clear view of the hernia, they place a mesh to recreate the weakness in the abdominal wall. The hernia mesh prevents the bulge from reoccurring.
The doctor may also discover occult hernias during the surgery. Using the robot, they can push any displaced organ or tissue back into its proper place and reinforce the hole with hernia mesh.
Robotic hernia surgeries are performed under general anesthesia, so the patient will sleep through the entire surgery. Patients may be able to go home the same day or the next day if no complications arise. Because of this, patients need to plan and arrange for someone to drive them home after the surgery.
Patients should avoid eating foods that are hard to digest immediately after the procedure. They should also stay hydrated and take stool softeners to speed up bowel function recovery. While bloating is common, it usually subsides once the intestines return to normal function. If it persists, talk to a doctor about the symptoms.