Robotic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction: Surgical Technique

Abstract

Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy could be a significant advancement in the treatment and prophylaxis of selected breast cancers. Motion-scaling, high-resolution, three-dimensional optics; tremor elimination; and instruments with enhanced precision with 7 degrees of freedom have allowed surgeons to overcome the limitations experienced with the endoscopic approach in breast surgery. Advantages of this procedure, in comparison with the open technique, are a shorter and more acceptable scar located in the lateral thoracic region, and greater respect for the vascularization of the mastectomy skin flap, because there is no incision on the breast and no retractors are used. The authors recently received approval from both the French health authorities and the ethics committee to carry out a clinical trial in their institution to assess feasibility, reproducibility, and safety of robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate prosthetic breast reconstruction. The aims of this article are to describe the surgical technique they have developed, and to share, through a video, the clinical experience gained from over 60 procedures performed so far.