Romania’s First Robotic Breast Reconstruction
The first robot-assisted breast reconstruction surgery in Romania and Eastern Europe has been successfully performed at the Regional Institute of Oncology (IRO) in Iasi. Conducted on April 16, the complex procedure used the patient’s own abdominal tissue and marked a significant milestone in post-mastectomy care, CE Report quotes Agerpres
A team led by Dr. Vlad Pieptu and Dr. Dragos Scripcariu, under the guidance of U.S.-based Romanian expert Dr. Daniel Murariu, carried out the surgery using the Da Vinci robotic system. The robot, acquired through the CENEMED project, enabled a minimally invasive approach with improved precision and quicker recovery.
“This innovation combines our expertise in microsurgery with robotic precision, offering patients better outcomes and faster healing,” said Dr. Pieptu.
The 11-hour operation was performed on a 48-year-old breast cancer survivor. She is expected to leave the hospital within a week and return to normal activities in about three weeks.
IRO Iasi has performed 250 breast reconstructions to date, with 41 using autologous abdominal tissue. Since 2022, the Da Vinci system has been used in 182 minimally invasive surgeries at the institute.
