Robotic-assisted surgery has revolutionized the surgical world, introducing innovative methods to reduce invasiveness across a variety of procedures. Despite its promise, the adoption of robotic-assisted techniques in microsurgery has been gradual. Many microsurgical procedures traditionally rely on open approaches and demand a level of technical skill that exceeds the current capabilities of robotic systems. The robotic-assisted deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap for breast reconstruction exemplifies a pioneering application of robotic technology that enhances the "gold standard" for flap-based breast reconstruction. This technique enables microsurgeons to harvest the pedicle of the abdominal flap with a significantly shorter fascial incision. It is hypothesized that minimizing the fascial incision length could mitigate donor site morbidity and related complications, such as core weakening, pain, and the risk of fascial bulge or hernia. This manuscript delves into the robotic-assisted DIEP flap, elaborating on the operative technique and sharing critical surgical insights necessary for successful implementation. Furthermore, it reviews the pertinent literature, underscoring both the successes and potential areas for enhancement of the robotic-assisted DIEP flap. This comprehensive examination showcases the current advancements and sets the stage for future innovations in the field of robotic-assisted microsurgery.
ROBOTIC-ASSISTED SURGERY OVERVIEWRobotic-assisted surgery (RAS) was first conceptualized in the 1980s by Scott Fisher at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Joseph Rosen, a plastic surgeon at Stanford University [1]. Originating as a derivative of laparoscopic surgery, RAS aims to improve surgical outcomes through minimally invasive approaches, thereby reducing human error [2]. Since the introduction of early robotic equipment such as the Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly (PUMA) Arm and RoboDoc, designed for neurologic and orthopedic surgery respectively, to the advent of the da Vinci® System, the field of RAS has experienced exponential growth over the past decades [1,2]. The da Vinci® System, which consists of a surgeon's console equipped with cameras for each eye, a patient trolley with four articulated arms, and an advanced imaging system, was the first surgical robot to receive FDA approval in 2000 [2,3]. It has been widely adopted across various medical subspecialties, including urology, gynecology, otolaryngology, cardiothoracic, and abdominal surgery [4-6]. Research on outcomes in these fields has underscored the significant benefits of RAS for both patients and providers.