London Robotic Breast Institute

Patient information on robotic-assisted breast reconstruction in the UK

Further reading & source material

Sources on robotic-assisted breast surgery and reconstruction. Links go to publishers, PubMed, or NHS pages. Some papers need a subscription to read in full.

Most robotic mastectomy (RNSM) papers below are background only. This site’s main topic is robotic DIEP reconstruction. Start with the UK hospital reports and the DIEP papers, then the Breastory patient guides if you want wider reconstruction context.

This page lists 49 references across 11 sections, drawn from verified NHS and publisher links. Entries marked with a note may require a subscription to read in full.

UK — robotic DIEP flap reconstruction (press & NHS)

These NHS and media sources report the first UK robotically assisted DIEP flap case (March 2026). They are hospital and press reports, not a peer-reviewed medical paper. The BBC item describes a separate 2025 keyhole DIEP patient — not the 2026 robotic case.

  1. pressRoyal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. A UK first for robotic reconstruction surgery. 2026 royalfree.nhs.ukNote: Royal Free reports first UK robotically assisted DIEP flap reconstruction — not peer-reviewed.
  2. pressThe Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. UK first for robotic breast reconstruction surgery. 2026 thh.nhs.ukNote: Hillingdon’s report of the same March 2026 case, described as DIEP reconstruction.
  3. pressRoyal Free Charity. UK-first robotic surgery made possible by the Royal Free Charity. 2026 royalfreecharity.orgNote: Charity-funded second surgical robot enabling the procedure.
  4. pressBBC News. New breast reconstruction procedure hailed ‘massive breakthrough’. 2025 bbc.co.ukNote: 2025 keyhole DIEP programme — different patient (Tanya Tanna) than the March 2026 robotic case (Patricia Carroll).
  5. pressHam & High. Royal Free Hospital’s first robot-assisted breast surgery. 2026 hamhigh.co.ukNote: Local reporting of the March 2026 robotic case; patient-reported abdominal comfort.
  6. pressA UK first for robotic reconstruction surgery. Surgery International. 2026 surgery.internationalNote: A trade article that repeats the Royal Free hospital report.

Robotic DIEP flap reconstruction (international literature)

These papers describe the technique internationally. They are separate from the UK NHS press reports. Jesse C. Selber (UT MD Anderson) published on robotic DIEP harvest before the March 2026 UK case.

  1. journal articleSelber JC. The robotic DIEP flap. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020 doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000006529Note: Landmark technique paper — intraperitoneal robotic pedicle harvest.
  2. journal articleSelber JC, Bishop SN, et al. Robotic harvest of the DIEP flap for breast reconstruction: a case series. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021 doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000008988Note: 21-patient series — fascial incision length and donor-site rationale.
  3. reviewBishop SN, Selber JC, et al. Minimally invasive robotic breast reconstruction surgery. Gland Surg. 2021 ncbi.nlm.nih.govNote: Open-access review of robotic DIEP operative approach.
  4. reviewThe full continuum of robotic breast surgery (mastectomy, DIEP, supermicrosurgery). 2023 ncbi.nlm.nih.govNote: Places robotic DIEP in wider robotic breast surgery context.

UK professional guidance

  1. guidanceNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Robot-assisted surgery for soft tissue procedures: early value assessment (HTG742). NICE. 2025 nice.org.ukNote: Conditional recommendation for robotic soft tissue surgery (including breast) in the NHS during a 3-year evidence generation period.
  2. guidanceAssociation of Breast Surgery (ABS). Oncoplastic breast surgery: a guide to good practice. ABS. 2021 associationofbreastsurgery.org.ukNote: UK oncoplastic context; no robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy endorsement.
  3. web resourceAssociation of Breast Surgery (UK) associationofbreastsurgery.org.ukNote: No specific guidance on robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy identified.

Clinical trials, consensus & registries

Most entries here concern robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy (RNSM). That is useful background on robotic breast surgery, not on DIEP reconstruction. Evidence for long-term cancer outcomes is still emerging.

  1. consensusRyu JM, Mok CW, Toesca A, Lai HW, et al. (GBCC/IERBS 2024 expert panel). Consensus statement on robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy. J Breast Cancer. 2025 doi:10.4048/jbc.2025.0030Note: Expert consensus: feasible at specialist centres; long-term outcomes not yet established.
  2. journal articleLai HW, Chen DR, et al. RCENSM-P trial — robotic vs conventional vs endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy. Ann Surg. 2024 doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000005924Note: Multicenter comparative trial (Taiwan).
  3. journal articleRyu JM, et al. MARRES cohort protocol (KoREa-BSG). BMC Cancer. 2023 doi:10.1186/s12885-023-10978-0Note: Korea multicenter registry protocol.
  4. journal articleSPROUT — single-port robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy multicenter (KoREa-BSG 09). Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 doi:10.1245/s10434-026-19262-4Note: Abstract available; the full paper may need a subscription.
  5. registryRCENSM-P trial registry. ClinicalTrials.gov.; NCT04037852 clinicaltrials.govNote: Taiwan randomised trial listing.
  6. registryUTSW single-port robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy IDE registry. ClinicalTrials.gov.; NCT05245812 clinicaltrials.govNote: US investigational listing for single-port robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy.

Pioneer series & feasibility (Italy / Korea)

  1. journal articleToesca A, et al. Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy for breast cancer: feasibility and safety study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017 doi:10.1016/j.breast.2016.10.009Note: IEO Milan early feasibility series.
  2. journal articleToesca A, et al. Update on feasibility and progress on robotic breast surgery. J Breast Cancer. 2020 doi:10.1245/s10434-019-07590-7Note: 94-procedure IEO update.
  3. journal articleToesca A, et al. Randomized trial of robotic mastectomy vs open surgery. Ann Surg. 2021 doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000004969Note: Randomised trial; the full paper may need a subscription.
  4. journal articleToesca A, et al. Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with implant: first report of surgical technique. Ann Surg. 2017 doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000001397Note: Early technique paper; the full text may need a subscription.
  5. journal articleRyu JM, Kim JY, Choi HJ, et al. (KoREa-BSG). Robot-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction: early Korean experience. Ann Surg. 2022 doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000004492Note: 82-procedure early series.
  6. patient informationEuropean Institute of Oncology (IEO). Robotic senology programme — patient information. ieo.itNote: Patient information from the European Institute of Oncology.

Comparative outcomes, reviews & meta-analyses

  1. journal articlePark HS, Lee J, Lai HW, et al. Surgical and oncologic outcomes of robotic and conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction: international pooled analysis. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 doi:10.1245/s10434-022-11865-xNote: 755-procedure pooled analysis.
  2. journal articleMeta-analysis: robotic vs conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy complications. Br J Surg. 2023 doi:10.1093/bjs/znad336Note: Complication outcomes meta-analysis.
  3. reviewIGBR, Lai HW, Chen DR, Liu LC, et al. A brief history and current state of robotic mastectomy: a review. Curr Breast Cancer Rep. 2025 doi:10.1007/s12609-025-00587-0Note: Background history review.
  4. reviewRizk H, Mokbel K, et al. Role of robot-assisted mastectomy: promise, challenges, and evidence gaps. Gland Surg. 2025 doi:10.21037/gs-2025-16Note: Evidence-gap framing for robotic mastectomy.
  5. journal articleGui Y, et al. Minimally invasive nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction (China). Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 doi:10.1245/s10434-022-11420-8Note: NSM + reconstruction single-centre retrospective.
  6. journal articleLarge Asian centre series — 266 robotic nipple-sparing mastectomies. Clin Breast Cancer. 2024 doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2024.12.013Note: Abstract available; the full paper may need a subscription.

United States — IDE & single-port series

  1. journal articleFarr DE, et al. Safety and feasibility of single-port robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy. JAMA Surg. 2024 doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2023.6999Note: US IDE feasibility series.
  2. journal articleDa Vinci SP nipple-sparing mastectomy single-centre series. Sci Rep. 2025 doi:10.1038/s41598-024-84807-0Note: Single-port platform outcomes.
  3. journal articleHuang JJ, et al. Single-incision robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy technique. Gland Surg. 2025 doi:10.21037/gs-2025-151Note: Technique paper — single-incision approach.

Regulatory & device communications

  1. regulatoryU.S. Food and Drug Administration. Computer-assisted surgical systems — safety communication (mastectomy caution). 2019 fda.govNote: FDA position on robotic devices for mastectomy / cancer surgery.
  2. regulatoryU.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safety communication reiteration — significant risk classification for US studies. 2021 fda.govNote: 2021 FDA reminder of the same safety position.
  3. journal articleBreaking dogmas in axillary lymphadenectomy and quality of life (axillary robotics review). Cancers (MDPI). 2025 doi:10.3390/cancers17132201Note: About robotic axillary surgery — a different operation from DIEP reconstruction.

China, East Asia & international context

  1. reviewCurrent status and prospects of minimally invasive breast cancer surgery in China. J Surg Concepts Pract. 2025 qk.sjtu.edu.cnNote: Review of minimally invasive breast surgery in China.
  2. consensusExpert consensus on robotic breast cancer surgery. Chin J Breast Dis (electronic edition). 2024; 18(3):129-139Note: Chinese expert consensus.
  3. pressYonsei Cancer Hospital — 1,000 robotic breast cases announcement. Asia Business Daily. 2025 asiae.co.krNote: News report of case volume in Korea.
  4. journal articlePluta P, Rathat G, Blay L, et al. Minimal access nipple-sparing mastectomy — the current European landscape. Menopause Review / Przegląd Menopauzalny. 2025 doi:10.5114/pm.2025.150082Note: Expert survey in six countries. The UK was not included. Switzerland and Poland respondents did not confirm robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy.

Study groups, symposia & web resources

  1. web resourceKoREa-BSG — Korea Robot-Endoscopy Minimal Access Breast Surgery Study Group koreabsg.comNote: Korea multicenter registry infrastructure (MARRES, SPROUT, ROM, PROTOS).
  2. web resourceInternational Endoscopic and Robotic Breast Surgery Symposium (IERBS)Note: Symposium series on endoscopic and robotic breast surgery. There is no stable public homepage.
  3. web resourcePubMed pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govNote: Searchable index of biomedical papers.
  4. web resourceClinicalTrials.gov clinicaltrials.govNote: Register of clinical trials.

Patient guides on Breastory (related reading)

LRBI is affiliated with Breastory. These practice guides cover wider reconstruction choices — not robotic reconstruction at Breastory.

  1. patient guideBreast reconstruction hub breastory.comNote: Overview of reconstruction options after mastectomy.
  2. patient guideDIEP flap explained breastory.comNote: Breastory’s guide to standard DIEP flap reconstruction.
  3. patient guideChoosing reconstruction — implant, autologous, or flat breastory.comNote: Decision guide for reconstruction routes.
  4. patient guideBreastory glossary breastory.comNote: Plain-language definitions for breast cancer care terms.

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