Prime Highlights-
- University of Exeter and Royal Devon received £125,000 for a national robotic hernia surgery study.
- The ROAR study will compare robotic and open surgery to examine patient recovery and treatment outcomes.
Key Facts-
- Around 25,000 people in the UK undergo ventral hernia repair surgery each year.
- Royal Devon is known for its specialist hernia and robotic surgery programme in the NHS.
Background-
University of Exeter and Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust secure funding for national robotic hernia surgery study
Researchers from the University of Exeter and the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have received £125,000 to lead a national study on robotic hernia surgery in the UK.
The project, called the ROAR study, will compare robotic surgery with open abdominal hernia repair to understand which treatment provides better outcomes for patients.
The research aims to examine recovery time, pain levels, mobility and overall quality of life after surgery. The findings are also expected to help the NHS make future decisions on the use of robotic technology in hernia treatment.
Professor John Findlay, Study Lead and Associate Director of Research and Development at Royal Devon, said the study would closely track patients during the early recovery period after surgery.
He said researchers believe robotic surgery may help patients recover faster, improve abdominal wall function and reduce pain after treatment.
Around 25,000 people in the UK undergo ventral hernia repair surgery every year. Traditional open surgery remains one of the strongest repair methods, but patients can face pain and longer recovery periods in the weeks after the operation.
Researchers said robotic surgery offers a less invasive option and may help improve recovery and mobility for patients. The study will recruit 132 patients across five sites in the UK over two years, including North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Wonford.
The project is supported by the National Institute of Health and Care Research Exeter Biomedical Research Centre and funded by the Intuitive European Research Board.
