Conventional versus Robot-Assisted Immediate Breast Reconstruction: Reconstructive Outcome and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

Background: In this study, the authors compared conventional and robot-assisted mastectomy and breast reconstruction. To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to report the results of robot-assisted mastectomy and breast reconstruction and provide a comparison of patient-reported outcomes.

Method: This retrospective study included 473 breasts of 423 patients who underwent conventional mastectomy and breast reconstruction and 164 breasts of 153 patients who underwent robot-assisted mastectomy and breast reconstruction from July of 2019 to October of 2021. Demographic and oncologic data, reconstructive outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes (BREAST-Q) were evaluated. The results of implant-based and autologous breast reconstruction were evaluated separately.

Results: Skin necrosis requiring surgical débridement occurred significantly more frequently in the conventional group (8.0%) than in the robot-assisted group (2.0%) in implant-based reconstruction ( P = 0.035). At 6 to 12 months, patients who underwent robot-assisted breast reconstruction showed a higher Sexual Well-being score for implant-based reconstruction and a higher Physical Well-being score for autologous breast reconstruction than conventional breast reconstruction according to the BREAST-Q questionnaire.

Conclusions: Robot-assisted mastectomy and breast reconstruction was associated with less skin necrosis and better patient-reported outcomes (Sexual Well-being for implant-based reconstruction and Physical Well-being for autologous breast reconstruction) than the conventional option. Robotic surgery could be a good option for mastectomy and breast reconstruction.

Clinical question/level of evidence: Therapeutic, III.