title: Robotic, intraperitoneal harvest of the rectus abdominis muscle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rectus abdominis muscle is a workhorse for free and pedicled muscle coverage. Traditional harvest violates the anterior rectus sheath and requires an abdominal incision. Robotic harvest can be reliably and efficiently performed using three ports and no additional incisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten robotic rectus muscle harvests were performed at three institutions as free flaps for extremity coverage and pedicled flaps for minimally invasive pelvic surgery requiring soft-tissue reconstruction. Three contralateral ports and an intraperitoneal approach were used in each harvest. Demographic information, operative variables, and outcomes were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cases were completed robotically by three surgeons at three different institutions. Four muscles were harvested as free flaps for lower extremity and six muscles were used as pedicled flaps, three for abdominopelvic defect reconstruction and two for protection of visceral repair following salvage prostatectomy or anterior pelvic exenteration. Average robotic setup time was 15 minutes. Average robotic harvest time was 45 minutes. Two 8-mm ports and one 12-mm port were used in each case. One patient developed a grade I decubitus ulcer during an extended operation. There were no other complications. All muscles were completely viable following harvest. There were no conversions to open technique, and no hernias or bulges were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic rectus muscle harvest is safe, efficient, and reproducible. The anterior rectus sheath can be left completely intact, eliminating incisional morbidity. The cumulative incisional length can be less than 2 inches even for extensive, multiservice pelvic procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, V.
authors: Houston, Texas; Chicago, Ill.; and Akron, Ohio From the Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center; the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Chicago Medicine; and Akron General Medical Center.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Pedersen
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Song
authors: Jesse C
authors: JC
authors: Selber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D016896:Treatment Outcome