How to Establish the Bipolar Forceps Dissection Method in Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair

Abstract

The number of robotic inguinal hernia repair (RIHR) surgeries performed by younger surgeons and surgical residents has been growing worldwide. As a result, there has been growing interest in the pace at which surgeons develop their competencies. In Japan, the number of robotic surgeries with the double bipolar technique for gastric cancer is increasing. We devised an RIHR technique for a right-hand-dominant surgeon. This article describes the procedure and step-by-step instructions for this technique. We also assessed the learning curve of a surgeon experienced in the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approach and robotic gastrectomy. This was a retrospective review of 31 inguinal hernia patients (40 lesions) between December 2018 and April 2021 operated by a single surgeon. The cumulative summation technique (CUSUM) was used to construct a learning curve for robotic proficiency by analyzing the times for peritoneal flap creation, mesh placement, and peritoneal closure. The postoperative course, namely, the length of hospital stay, 30-d complications, and 30-d readmission rates, was evaluated. The CUSUM graph for the total time for each phase indicated an initial decrease at lesion 12 and another decrease at lesion 36, generating three distinct performance phases: learning (n = 12 procedures), competence (n = 24), and mastery (n = 4). Between the early and late periods, no significant differences in patient characteristics or surgical outcomes were found. The learning curve for this technique was divided into three performance phases, and the technique was safely achievable in 36 procedures by a surgeon with previous experience in laparoscopic TAPP.