Long-term quality of life outcomes following robotic inguinal hernioplasty: a single-centre experience of 100 cases

To evaluate the long-term efficacy and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) outcomes in patients who underwent robotic-assisted transabdominal preperitoneal (R-TAPP) inguinal hernioplasty in an Australian setting. A cross-sectional analysis of patients who underwent R-TAPP inguinal hernioplasty was performed. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. Post-operative outcomes, including chronic pain, opioid requirements, hernia recurrence, and return to activities, were evaluated. A total of 100 patients who completed the SF-36 questionnaire (94 males, 6 females) were included in the study. The median age at operation was 64 years. Of the 77 patients who answered the question on opioid use, 56% used opioids (8% for less than 1 week, 19% for 1 week, 17% for between 1 and 2 weeks, and 9% for more than 2 weeks). Eighty-five percent reported no chronic groin pain at follow-up. The hernia recurrence rate was 1%. The median follow-up period was 35 months. The median time to return to work, driving, and exercise was 1, 2, and 4 weeks, respectively. SF-36 scores showed optimal outcomes (median 100) in physical functioning, role limitations, and social functioning domains. R-TAPP inguinal hernioplasty demonstrates excellent long-term outcomes with high health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) scores, low chronic pain rates, and minimal recurrence rates. There is the potential for increasing uptake of this procedure with increasing availability and decreasing cost of robotic surgery technology.