Robot Assisted Laparoscopic Repair of Sciatic Hernia (RASH): A Case Report

Sciatic hernia is a surgical rarity. One such hernia was incidentally diagnosed in a 79-year-old woman who underwent Robot assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy for locally invasive bladder cancer. Intra-operatively, a patent hernia sac was noted in the sciatic notch. The hernia was successfully repaired during the same operation by using robot assisted laparoscopic technique. This appears to be the first robot assisted sciatic hernia repair in the world literature although it was done incidentally during another procedure. The technical descriptions of the operation are also applicable when isolated sciatic hernia repair is intended. A robot assisted laparoscopic repair is safe, feasible and well suited to the repair of sciatic hernias in women. The surgeon needs to be aware of this uncommon surgical pathology that may occur in women presenting with persistent chronic pelvic discomfort.