Iatrogenic Rupture of Saline Breast Implant Following Robotic-Assisted Lung Surgery

Abstract

Breast implants are prevalent in the United States. Patients with breast implants may be susceptible to iatrogenic implant rupture during cardiothoracic surgery. To our knowledge, however, this complication has never been described following robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS). We described a patient who developed a rupture of a saline breast implant after undergoing a robot-assisted left lower lobectomy. We hypothesized that a tear to the breast implant may have occurred either during the extraction of one of the surgical ports or during the forceful extraction of the resected specimen. This case highlights another potential complication of minimally invasive thoracic surgery. For patients with breast implants undergoing thoracic RATS, extra care should be made to the site of port placement and the avoidance of excessive force during surgery.