Robotic-assisted inguinal hernia repair: A historical review

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common procedures performed in general surgery. Approximately 20 million hernia surgeries are performed every year worldwide. Conventionally, hernial repair is carried out with the open Lichtenstein technique; however, laparoscopic and robotic inguinal hernia repairs have been developed as a minimally invasive alternative to the classic Lichtenstein repair. The prosthetic mesh can be placed by totally extraperitoneal and transabdominal pre-peritoneal approaches. Choosing the best technique for repairing an inguinal hernia is a challenge because the available data are contradictory. However, a growing number of studies have claimed that robotic-assisted hernia repair is not only feasible and safe, but it is associated with outcomes that are comparable to those obtained with laparoscopy and open surgery, including shorter hospital stay, and fewer complications. The aim of the review article is to provide an overview of the current practice of inguinal hernia repair, with a focus on the advances in robotic-assisted inguinal hernia repair, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this surgical procedure compared to the laparoscopic technique in view of the current reports in the literature.