Incisional Hernia Repair: Minimally Invasive Approaches

A common surgical procedure, ventral hernia repair has long been a vexing problem, with no clear standard for repair and significant postoperative morbidity. Laparoscopic repair has the clear advantage of lower postoperative morbidity. However, application of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is often limited by patient factors and hernia morphology. Long-term complications of intraperitoneal mesh and recurrence are concerning. Robotic-assisted surgery is the latest advance in minimally invasive hernia repair, combining the advantages of open repair with complete abdominal wall reconstruction and restoration of functional anatomy with the wound morbidity and decreased recovery time of laparoscopy.