Advancements in Single-Port Robotic Hernia Repair: Insights from the ESPRITH Study

The ESPRITH study shows single-port robotic hernia repair is technically feasible and carries an early safety signal in an IDEAL Stage 1 clinical series, reporting no intraoperative complications and establishing an initial perioperative benchmark for teams tracking early outcomes.

In 22 consecutive patients, there were no intraoperative complications. Median operative times were 87 minutes for inguinal repairs and 150 minutes for ventral repairs—figures that reflect early operative performance with single-port robotic hernia repair platforms. The cohort size and these timing data suggest early procedural feasibility with durations compatible with routine minimally invasive workflows in selected cases.

Single-port platforms consolidate access through a single incision, use wristed articulating instruments, and integrate a flexible 3D endoscope to reduce instrument conflict and port clutter. Technical features likely to have lowered intraoperative risk include improved endoscopic visualization, restored triangulation through instrument articulation, and stable port docking that limits unintended instrument motion.

Larger multicenter cohorts, standardized endpoints, and comparative trials are needed to define comparative effectiveness and long‑term outcomes.