De novo inguinal hernia after radical prostatectomy: Does the access make some difference? – A systematic review and meta-analysis

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent neoplasms among men, and radical prostatectomy is a common treatment. While urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are frequently discussed postoperative complications, the incidence of inguinal hernias (IHs) has received less attention. Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RALP) has emerged as a technique that may reduce the risk of IH compared to conventional approaches (C-RALP). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines to evaluate whether different surgical approaches influence the incidence of IHs. From 670 initially identified studies, four met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that RS-RALP was associated with a significantly lower incidence of IH compared to C-RALP (odds ratio = 0.31; confidence interval = 0.18–0.55; P < 0.001). Preservation of the Retzius space appears to reduce the risk of postoperative IH, whereas reconstructive measures within this space do not seem to offer additional protection.