Dear editors

We read with interest the recent article published in your journal by Zaman et al. [1] on observations and outcomes from transabdominal to totally extra‐peritoneal robotic ventral hernia repair. This well written article emphasises the safety and efficacy of robotic e-TEP (enhanced view totally extra‐peritoneal) approach in ventral hernia in comparison to robotic TA-SM (Transabdominal sublay mesh) approach with lesser conversion to open rates and reduced hospital stay. However, we would like to put up some of our queries arising on appraisal of this manuscript. It is noticeable that considerable number of patients in both groups of eTEP and TA-SM had prior hernia surgery. Did prior hernia surgery had any effect on performance of surgery or leading to effect on study outcomes in both or either of the groups? Also did the authors used drains in any of the eTEP or TA-SM repairs though recent evidence does suggest very little to no role of drains in ventral hernia repair [2]. Nevertheless, this study proves its worth in promoting robotic eTEP repairs for primary and recurrent ventral hernias and supplementing previously published literature [3, 4] along with mentioning of transition profile of a single surgeon among two robotic approaches of ventral hernia repair.