Tomball Surgeon Dr. Brian Harkins Adds ERAS Recovery Protocols to Robotic Hernia Program
Dr. Brian Harkins integrates evidence-based perioperative pathways with Da Vinci Xi technology at HCA Houston Healthcare – Tomball.
Dr. Brian Harkins, a board-certified general surgeon at HCA Houston Healthcare – Tomball, has integrated Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols into his robotic hernia surgery program. The approach combines standardized perioperative care with the precision of the Da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, targeting same-day discharge and a return to light activity within days for most patients.
Key Facts
- What: ERAS protocols now applied across all robotic hernia repairs — inguinal, ventral, incisional, umbilical, and hiatal — using 8 mm port incisions and 3D high-definition visualization.
- Where: HCA Houston Healthcare – Tomball, the first hospital in the Greater Houston Area to operate two Da Vinci Xi robotic surgical systems.
- Why it matters: Approximately 800,000 inguinal hernia repairs are performed annually in the U.S., yet an estimated 70–80% still use traditional open techniques associated with longer recovery.
- How ERAS works: A multidisciplinary checklist covering preoperative nutrition optimization, multimodal non-opioid pain management, low-pressure CO₂ insufflation, and early postoperative mobilization — all designed to reduce surgical stress and accelerate healing.
Background
ERAS protocols were originally developed for colorectal surgery in the late 1990s and have since expanded into multiple specialties. Applied to robotic hernia repair, the protocols coordinate care across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases to minimize opioid use, reduce complications, and shorten hospital stays.
As a robotic surgery specialist, Dr. Brian Harkins applies the same ERAS-driven methodology across his full practice. Patients requiring robotic cholecystectomy for gallbladder disease are treated under the same protocol by Dr. Brian Harkins.
His robotic colorectal surgery program for colon cancer, diverticulitis, and inflammatory bowel disease also follows the ERAS pathway, with Dr. Brian Harkins reporting shorter hospital stays for these patients as well.
To schedule a consultation or learn more, visit https://www.drbrianharkins.com/.
About Dr. Brian Harkins
Dr. Brian Harkins is a board-certified, military-trained robotic surgeon practicing at HCA Houston Healthcare – Tomball. He specializes in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery for hernia, gallbladder, colorectal, and anti-reflux conditions using the Da Vinci Xi surgical system. One of only six surgeons invited to the Intuitive Surgical Worldwide Meeting as a surgeon expert, he provides comprehensive surgical care for patients of all ages.
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Media Contact
Dr. Brian Harkins
455 School St Ste 10, Tomball, TX 77375
https://www.drbrianharkins.com/
281-247-0503
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