rTAPP Demonstrates No Superiority Over TEP Regarding Postop Pain

Background: Minimally invasive hernia repair leads to less postoperative and chronic pain, hematomas, and wound infections, as well as faster return to work. Whether laparoscopic or robotic approaches are better is a matter of debate. Objective: To determine whether robotic transabdominal preperitoneal (rTAPP) repair results in reduced postoperative pain compared to laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair. Design: Prospective, blinded, single-center, randomized clinical trial. Participants: Patients with symptomatic unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernias aged ≥18 years. Methods: Surgeries performed from March 2022 through November 2024 on adult patients for unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernias were included. Primary end point was postoperative pain while coughing 24 hours postoperatively. Secondary end points were numeric rating scale (NRS) at rest 24 hours postoperatively, as well as NRS at rest and while coughing after 7 days, 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months. Pa more...