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The Realization of a Remote Robotic Breast Surgery
1Department of Breast Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Introduction:
While remote telesurgery has advanced fields like urology and general surgery, its application in breast oncology remains unreported. We present a successful case of remote robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy (rNSM), which preliminarily confirms its technical feasibility and perioperative safety.
Case Presentation:
A 50-year-old woman with multicentric, HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer accepted rNSM in January 2025. The surgical team operated from Zhujiang Hospital, controlling a single-port robotic system located 60 km away at Foshan Sanshui District People's Hospital via a dedicated 5G standalone network. The procedure achieved R0 resection with minimal blood loss (<5 mL) and a mean network latency of 4.674 ms. Comprehensive contingency plans for network failure were in place. The patient recovered without complications.
Conclusions:
This case preliminarily establishes the technical feasibility and short-term safety of remote breast surgery in a controlled setting. It holds promise for improving access to specialized oncologic care. Future efforts must focus on establishing robust safety protocols, legal frameworks, and evaluating long-term oncological outcomes through larger studies.
