Abstract:

The past decade has been a "golden decade" of leapfrog development for hernia and abdominal wall surgery in China. Driven by minimally invasive surgery, the concept of enhanced recovery, and artificial intelligence technology, this field has undergone tremendous progress, evolving from mere technical modifications to conceptual innovation. Firstly, the concept of minimally invasive surgery has transitioned from a focus on procedural selection to a paradigm shift in philosophy. Laparoscopic techniques have been widely adopted and refined towards mastery, while open surgery has also achieved "minimally invasive" outcomes through component separation techniques. Emerging robotic surgery represents the cutting edge of technological innovation. Secondly, in response to the increasing number of very elderly and high-risk patients, an individualized comprehensive perioperative management system based on multidisciplinary collaboration has been established. This system deeply integrates prehabilitation, precise anesthesia, and the principles of enhanced recovery after surgery（ERAS）, significantly improving surgical safety and patient outcomes. Among these, precise anesthesia strategies have become a key factor in facilitating enhanced recovery. Simultaneously, artificial intelligence and big data technologies have begun to empower clinical practice, demonstrating great potential in assisting diagnosis, preoperative planning, and risk prediction, thereby guiding the discipline into a new digital and intelligent phase. Overall, Chinese hernia and abdominal wall surgery has progressively transformed from a follower into an innovative force achieving parallel and even leading positions in certain fields internationally.

Key words: Hernia surgery, Minimally invasive surgery, Enhanced recovery after surgery（ERAS）, Elderly patients, Artificial intelligence（AI）