Active smoking increases risk of wound complications in robotic enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) retro-rectus ventral hernia repairs

Background: Tobacco smoking increases risk of complications after open hernia repair, however it is unknown whether this is true in minimally invasive hernia repair. We aim to determine whether there are differences in complication rates between smokers and non-smokers after robotic eTEP retrorectus repair.

Methods: Our study included 102 patients who underwent robotic eTEP retrorectus repair of ventral hernias at a single institution from November 2019 to October 2022. Data collected included demographics, smoking status, operative details and outcomes. Patients were sorted into groups based on smoking status and outcomes were compared using ANOVA and chi-squared to test for significance.

Results: Out of 102 patients, 18 were currently smoking, 38 were former smokers, 56 had ever smoked, 46 had never smoked and 84 were not currently smoking. Those who had ever smoked were more likely to endorse alcohol use compared to never smokers (60.7 vs 37%, p = 0.0169) and COPD was significantly more common in current smokers compared to not current smokers (p = 0.00025) and ever smokers compared to never smokers (p = 0.0037). Average follow up was 59.17 days and there was only one recurrence, which occurred in a never smoker. Initial analysis showed no difference in any complication. We excluded asymptomatic seromas that never required intervention due to clinical insignificance and repeat analysis showed current smokers had a significantly higher rate of surgical site occurrences (SSO) compared to patients not smoking at the time of their operation (p = 0.012). There was no difference between ever smokers and never smokers (p = 0.77). There remained no difference in any other complication.

Conclusion: Active smoking at the time of robotic eTEP increases the risk of clinically significant surgical site occurrences. This same increase is not seen in former smokers suggesting that smoking cessation should be encouraged before minimally invasive hernia repair.