To compare the clinical efficacy and short-term quality of life between the Da Vinci robotic and laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair surgeries.

A retrospective analysis of 70 patients who underwent minimally invasive hiatal hernia repair surgery consecutively performed by the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, between March 2016 and January 2021 was conducted. Based on patient surgical preferences, 23 were assigned to the robot-assisted group, receiving Da Vinci robotic hiatal hernia repair (RHH), and 47 to the laparoscopic group, receiving laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair (LHH). Clinical characteristics, surgical indices, post-operative major complications, and short-term quality of life were compared between the two groups.

No significant difference in clinical characteristics was found between the two groups (P>0.05). Surgery duration and intraoperative blood loss were also comparable (P>0.05). There was no statistical difference in post-operative complications such as pneumonia, arrhythmia, and dysphagia (P>0.05). The average post-operative hospital stay for the robot-assisted group was (3.4±1.6) days, significantly shorter than the laparoscopic group's (5.7±1.9) days (P<0.05). The 90-day mortality rate for both groups was 0%. The hernia recurrence rate for the robotic group was 0%, significantly lower than the 6.3% in the laparoscopic group (P<0.05). In terms of short-term quality of life, Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) scores at 3 and 12 months post-operatively were significantly higher than pre-operation (P<0.05) for both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups' scores (P>0.05).

The Da Vinci robotic hiatal hernia repair surgery is safe and feasible. Compared to the laparoscopic method, it provides notable advantages in promoting faster post-operative recovery and reducing hernia recurrence rates, significantly improving patients' short-term quality of life.