The first robot-assisted breast reconstruction surgery was performed at the Regional Institute of Oncology (IRO) in Iasi, marking a first in Romania and Eastern Europe.

The IRO Iasi announced on Thursday that, in collaboration with the 'Grigore T. Popa' University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iasi, the first robot-assisted breast reconstruction was successfully carried out, using the patient's own abdominal tissue.

The surgery was performed by a medical team consisting of Dr. Vlad Pieptu and Dr. Dragos Scripcariu, under the guidance of Dr. Daniel Murariu, a renowned specialist in robotic reconstructive surgery, originally from Romania and now based in the United States.

According to IRO representatives, this procedure is a first not only in Romania but also in Eastern Europe.

The complex surgery was conducted using the mechanised arms of the Da Vinci robot, which was acquired three years ago through the CENEMED project, jointly managed by UMF and IRO. The operation took place on April 16 and represents a major step forward in post-mastectomy reconstructive surgery.

'This innovative intervention was made possible through the use of the Da Vinci surgical robot and the team's expertise in microsurgical techniques for autologous tissue transfer. In addition to what is already considered the gold standard in breast reconstruction - using abdominal tissue, a method practiced at IRO since 2014 - the robotic component offers a less invasive alternative, with faster recovery and better functional outcomes,' said Dr. Vlad Pieptu, a consultant in plastic and reconstructive surgery at IRO Iasi.

Key advantages of robotic surgery include increased precision and shorter recovery time.

The surgical team spent 11 hours in the operating room. The patient, a 48-year-old woman who underwent a unilateral mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis three years ago, is expected to remain in the hospital for less than a week.

'The procedure lasted 11 hours because both vascular axes were harvested from the abdominal area (...). We expect the patient to stay less than a week in the hospital. Stitches will be removed in two weeks,' added Dr. Pieptu.

Doctors expect the patient to resume her normal activities within three weeks.

So far, 250 breast reconstructions have been performed at IRO Iasi, 41 of which used autologous abdominal tissue.

The first robot-assisted surgery in northeastern Romania took place at IRO Iasi on June 23, 2022, using the Da Vinci system for minimally invasive tumor ablation. Since then until the end of 2024, the Da Vinci robotic system has been used in 182 minimally invasive surgeries, including 99 general surgeries, pelvic colorectal pathology, 49 urological surgeries, radical prostatectomies, and 34 gynecological surgeries, radical hysterectomies. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniela Malache; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)