Robotic Surgery for Hernia Repair at Inova

Maximum Benefits: Minimally invasive robotic surgery for hernia repair

This year, in order to continue providing patients with top-notch surgical care, doctors at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus (IFMC) have started performing a new minimally invasive robotic procedure to repair hernias.

The robotic transversus abdominis release (rTAR) procedure uses leading-edge robotic technology for advanced abdominal wall reconstruction. Previously, open surgery was utilized to repair larger incisional hernias. While these surgeries were successful, they carried a higher risk of wound complications and longer hospital stays due to the size of the incisions. According to IFMC clinicians, rTAR offers less of a risk of wound complications and shorter hospital stays.

“The robotic surgery program here offers many advantages,” explains Paula Graling, DNP, RN, CNOR, FAAN, Interim Senior Director of Perioperative Services and Director of the Department of Surgery. “Robots provide optimal visualization and ease of surgical manipulation for surgeons, and create smaller incisions with less pain for patients. This promotes easier patient recovery.”

“The robotic approach is appealing because it gives us all the advantages of the minimally invasive approach, including fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery, while being just as effective as open TAR,” adds Gordon Hafner, MD, FACS, Section Chief, General Surgery. “It has great potential for our patients.”

Learn more about robotic surgery at Inova at inova.org/davinci.