Kaylene Barrera

By Kaylene Barrera, Paul Chung and Gainosuke Sugiyama

Cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed abdominal procedures with more than 600,000 performed annually in the United States. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, first introduced in the 1980s, offered faster recovery time and a more cosmetic result making it the more favorable approach. In developed countries, up to 90% of cholecystectomies are done via laparoscopy. After the first robotic surgery platform was approved by the FDA in 2000, it provided surgeons with enhanced ergonomic capabilities and visualization and also offered possibility of telemedicine. The first series of robotic cholecystectomies soon followed in the last 15 years, and robotic cholecystectomy has become increasingly popular and has been established as a safe approach. The aims of this chapter are to address the history of robotic-assisted cholecystectomy, the technical aspects of multiport and single-port approaches, use of cholangiography, demonstration of safety and use in both community and academic settings.

Part of the book: Updates in Gallbladder Diseases

By Kaylene Barrera, Paul Chung, Sarrina Shraga and Gainosuke Sugiyama

Approximately 350,000 to 500,000 ventral hernias are repaired yearly in the United States. These hernias include congenital umbilical hernias, incisional hernias from previous surgeries, or epigastric hernias. The crux of hernia repair is honoring the principle of achieving a tension‐free repair, often achieved with utilization of a synthetic mesh. Over the last quarter of this century, laparoscopic ventral hernia repair has established itself as a valuable tool in repair of ventral hernias, with the advantages of reduced postoperative complications. More recently, the adaptation of the robotic platform has given another tool to perform ventral hernia repairs. The aim of this chapter is to describe the evolution of ventral hernia repairs and highlight the robotic approaches to repair.

Part of the book: Hernia