Robotic ventral hernia repair in octogenarians: perioperative and long-term outcomes

Very few studies have documented perioperative outcomes of ventral hernia repair in octogenarians. The aim of this study is to report the perioperative and the long-term outcomes of robotic ventral hernia repair (RVHR) in aged 80-89 years patients. From a prospectively maintained database, aged 80-89 years patients who underwent robotic procedures between 2013 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively including perioperative outcomes and long-term follow-up. Complications were assessed with validated grading systems and index. 21 octogenarians with average age 83.48 were included. Intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair, transabdominal preperitoneal repair, retromuscular repair with or without transversus abdominis release technique were performed without conversion. The average operating time was 150 min. The mean hospital length of stay of all cohorts was 1.24 day. There was a strong correlation between operating time and hospital length of stay. The median follow-up was 23.5 months. According to Clavien-Dindo classification, grade-I and grade-II complications were observed in 23.8% and 28.6% patients, respectively; major complications (grade-III and IV) were not observed. The maximum Comprehensive Complication Index(R) score was 29.6. None of the patients experienced hernia recurrence or chronic pain. To our best knowledge this study is the first to present perioperative as well as long-term outcomes of octogenarian patients who underwent RVHR. The results indicate the safety and efficacy of RVHR in octogenarians.