Maaike Vierstraete
AZ Maria Middelares, Hospital zum Heiligen Geist, Ghent University Hospital
Papers
10
Total Citations
158
H-Index
7
About
Maaike Vierstraete is a surgical researcher specializing in robotic-assisted abdominal wall surgery, with a particular focus on hernia repair, surgical training, and health economics. Her work has significantly advanced the evidence base for robot-assisted laparoscopic techniques in European clinical settings, addressing critical gaps in knowledge around outcomes, costs, and safety. Vierstraete's most influential contributions include a landmark comparison of open versus robotic transversus abdominis release for complex ventral hernias (39 citations) and the EASTER study (37 citations), which provided rare European data on the economic implications of robotic inguinal hernia repair. Recognizing that rapid adoption of robotic platforms requires structured education, she co-authored the European Hernia Society's Da Vinci® training pathway (33 citations) and developed the innovative SPIRIT porcine simulation model for standardized robotic surgical training. Her research extends to mesh behavior, publishing prospective MRI-based data on mesh shrinkage in retrorectus repair, and to emerging robotic platforms, proposing the Hernia ASCEND Hugo™ RAS training curriculum. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis further consolidates her role as a leading synthesizer of evidence in robotic ventral hernia repair. Her cumulative citation impact underscores her growing influence on how surgeons worldwide adopt and are trained in robotic abdominal wall surgery.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 10V-005 Robot assisted parastomal hernia repair of an ileal conduit stoma1 citations · 2023