A study has found that breast cancer surgery using robots reduces complications and preserves the shape of the breast as much as possible.
Two researchers -- Professor Park Hyung-seok of Yonsei Cancer Center and Professor Lee Jee-a at Eulji Medical Center’s Breast Clinic – discovered that robotic surgery reduces complications by 5.7 times compared to existing surgery and shows significant breast preservation effect with low cases of papilla necrosis.
The researchers analyzed the data of multiple medical institutions and compared the results of existing breast cancer surgery to that of robotics surgery.
Their analysis found that the robotic surgery’s rate of complications, such as wound infection, intestinal fluid, papilla, or skin necrosis, within 30 days of surgery was 31.1 percent, lower than existing surgery’s 40.8 percent. The incidence of complications with high severity also showed significant differences with 10.9 percent and 19.4 percent, respectively.
Besides, the rate of papillary necrosis, considered a typical complication of breast cancer surgery, was 2.2 percent in robotic surgery and 7.8 percent in existing surgery, showing a 3.5 times difference.
Robotics surgeries are more effective when complete mastectomy and breast reconstruction have proceeded together, they found. It is easy to cover the surgical scars by minimizing them by inserting an 8-12mm robot arm by incision of 2.5 to 5 cm in the armpit area. Also, it can be reconstructed close to a natural breast, showing high patient satisfaction.
“We conducted the research based on data from international institutions to confirm the efficacy of robotics breast surgery,” Professor Park said. “Robotics surgery not only improved prognosis, such as breast reconstruction, through lowering papillary necrosis using minimally invasive surgery but also reserved the breast form as much as possible by allowing patients more confidence. Furthermore, we aim to do our best in developing clinical skills for patients’ satisfaction.”
The research result was published in the latest issue of Annals of Surgical Oncology.