Safety and short-term outcomes of robotic-assisted transabdominal preperitoneal repair for inguinal hernia in pioneering hospitals in Japan: A nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Robotic-assisted transabdominal preperitoneal repair can be safely introduced in Japan. Regardless of the involvement of many surgeons, the mastery of robotic techniques was achieved relatively quickly. The advantage of robotic technology such as wristed instruments may expand the application of minimally invasive hernia repair for complicated cases.