Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
07:27
Robotics in Surgery: A Modular Robotic Platform Driven Gastric Wedge Resection
Published on: February 7, 2025
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Laparoscopic versus Robotic (Hugo™ RAS) Bilateral Inguinal Hernia Repair: A
Riccardo Caruso1,2, Emilio Vicente1,2, Yolanda Quijano1,2
1Department of General Surgery, Sanchinarro University Hospital, Jose Camilo Cela University, Madrid, Spain.
Surgical Innovation
|May 14, 2026
Summary
Robotic-assisted inguinal hernia repair offers comparable outcomes to laparoscopy but at a higher cost. While robotic surgery reduced early pain, it increased operative time and overall expenses, with an ICER of €29,488.16 per QALY gained.
Area of Science:
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Surgical Technology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Bilateral inguinal hernia repair is a common global surgical procedure.
- Robotic-assisted surgery presents potential benefits but its cost-effectiveness versus laparoscopy is debated.
- The Hugo™ RAS system is a new robotic platform for surgical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of robotic TAPP versus laparoscopic TAPP for bilateral inguinal hernia repair.
- To evaluate the Hugo™ RAS system's performance in this surgical context.
- To assess the economic implications from a hospital perspective.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, non-randomized study comparing L-TAPP and robotic TAPP.
- Inclusion of 64 patients undergoing bilateral inguinal hernia repair (Feb 2023 - Nov 2024).
- Assessment of operative time, hospital stay, complications, pain, recurrence, QALYs, and costs.
Main Results:
- Robotic procedures had longer operative times but significantly lower postoperative pain on day 1.
- No significant differences in pain at day 7 or chronic pain rates were found.
- Robotic TAPP incurred higher mean total costs (€4365.80 vs €1690.54) with an ICER of €29,488.16 per QALY.
Conclusions:
- Robotic-assisted TAPP with the Hugo™ RAS system is a safe and feasible alternative for bilateral inguinal hernia repair.
- Clinical outcomes are comparable to laparoscopy, but with increased costs.
- The higher cost necessitates careful consideration of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.
