Robot-assisted surgery is evolving to incorporate a higher number of minimally invasive
techniques. There is a growing interest in robotic breast reconstruction that uses
autologous tissue. Since a traditional latissimus dorsi (LD) flap leads to a long
donor scar, which can be an unpleasant burden to patients, there have been many attempts
to decrease the scar length using minimally invasive approaches. This study presents
the case of a patient who underwent a robot-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy followed
by immediate breast reconstruction with an LD flap using a single-port robotic surgery
system. With the assistance of a single-port robot, a simple docking process using
a short and less visible incision is possible. Compared to multiport surgery systems,
single-port robots can reduce the possibility of collision between robotic arms and
provide a clear view of the medial border of the LD where the curvature of the back
restricts the visual field. We recommend the use of single-port robots as a minimally
invasive approach for harvesting LD flaps.
Keywords
Mammaplasty - Robotic surgical procedures - Single port - Latissimus dorsi flap -
Breast neoplasms
