Erlangen Hospital performs robot‑assisted breast reconstruction

The Bavarian Surgical Association held its 2026 annual meeting from July 22‑24 at the University Hospital Erlangen. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Robert Grützmann, chairman of the association, the conference highlighted advances in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, complex cancer treatments and interdisciplinary care across specialties such as visceral, thoracic, vascular, cardiac, pediatric and trauma surgery.

In a separate pilot study, Prof. Dr. Andreas Arkudas, director of the Plastic and Hand Surgery Clinic at the same hospital, performed the first robot‑assisted microvascular anastomosis for breast reconstruction using the Da‑Vinci Xi system. The procedure used the patient’s own abdominal fat and skin to create a new breast for a 39‑year‑old woman after mastectomy for breast cancer. The Da‑Vinci robot enabled precise arterial and venous connections, eliminating the need for an operating microscope and completing the multi‑hour surgery without complications. The team plans larger case series and training protocols to evaluate the technique’s benefits and limits.