Surgeon experience and complications with Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS).

Surgeon experience and complications with Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS). - 2013

Available online from MWHC library: 1995 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - 2006

CONCLUSIONS: TORS is associated with a low major complication rate, early initiation of oral intake, and a low rate of long-term PEG dependency. Postoperative hemorrhage was the most common cause of hospital readmission and postoperative mortality. OBJECTIVE: To investigate surgeon preferences for perioperative management of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and explore the frequency of postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 2015 procedures were reported by 45 respondent TORS-trained surgeons: 67% academic, 33% nonacademic. A minority of TORS procedures (n = 214, 10.6%) were performed on previously irradiated patients. Neck dissections were performed concurrently (58%) or staged (42%). Fewer than 6% of TORS procedures required tracheotomy or reconstruction. Most surgeons (62%) initiated oral intake on postoperative day 0-1. Of the patients who required readmission, bleeding (n = 62, 3.1%) was the most common cause followed by dehydration (n = 26, 1.3%). Other complications of surgery included tooth injury (n = 29, 1.4%), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) dependency >6 months (n = 21, 1.0%), temporary hypoglossal nerve injury (n = 18, 0.9%), and lingual nerve injury (n = 11, 0.6%). A total of 6 deaths (0.3%) were reported within 30 days of TORS. All reported deaths were due to postoperative hemorrhage. The complication rate decreased significantly with higher surgeon case volume (>50 cases). SETTING: Multi-institutional. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective survey. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An electronic survey was sent to over 300 TORS-trained surgeons in the United States identified by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Participation was voluntary and solicited by email invitations to participate 3 times over a 1-month period.


English

0194-5998


*Carcinoma/su [Surgery]
*Clinical Competence/st [Standards]
*Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery
*Neck Dissection
*Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/su [Surgery]
*Robotics
Carcinoma/co [Complications]
Dehydration/et [Etiology]
Humans
Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery/mo [Mortality]
Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery/mt [Methods]
Operative Time
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/co [Complications]
Patient Readmission
Postoperative Hemorrhage/et [Etiology]
Questionnaires
Retrospective Studies
Robotics/mt [Methods]
Survival Analysis
Treatment Outcome
United States


MedStar Washington Hospital Center


Otolaryngology


Journal Article
Multicenter Study

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