TORS surgery in the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors

Aim. The main aim of this work is the introduction of transoral robotic interventions in case of the oral cavity and oropharynx malignancies into clinical practice. At present, a multidisciplinary approach is required for the treatment of patients with oropharynx and oral cavity tumors. When choosing a treatment method at early stages of T1-T2 of disease, it is important to take into account both its effectiveness and risk of possible complications. The popularization of robotic surgery in Russia and all over the world has opened a new era in head and neck surgery. Minimally invasive transoral robotic surgery has successfully entered the clinical practice, mostly due to its high accuracy, ease of operation, and the use of modified technological solutions. One more important factor is the restoration of organ function and the good long-term functional outcomes that both benefit to the patient’s quality of life.

Results. The remarkable peculiarity of the postoperative period was the early activation of patients, reduction of hospital stay, and satisfactory cosmetic and functional results.

 Materials and methods. A number of methods for treating patients with oral cavity and oropharynx neoplasms with the use of transoral robotic assistance were developed in the plastic surgery clinic of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov. Ten patients successfully underwent surgical treatment: 7 transoral robotic resections of the oropharynx, 1 resection of the tongue root, and 2 operations were performed in patients with nasal cavity and ethmoidal labyrinth tumors via transoral approach. The microsurgical autotransplantation was used in one case.

Conclusion. This method allows a short time proceed to the following treatment steps (chemotherapy, radiation therapy) providing the application of combined and complex approach to the treatment of head and neck tumors.

Key words: oropharyngeal cancer, head and neck oncology, transoral robotic surgery, reconstruction, flap

Authors declare no conflict of interests for this article.

Source of financing. Unspecified.

For citations: Reshetov I.V., Sukortseva N.S., Svyatoslavov D.S., Shevalgin A.A., Nasilevsky P.A. TORS surgery in the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors. Golova I Sheya Head and neck Russian Journal. 2018;6(2):6–13 (in Russian).

The authors are responsible for the originality of the presented data and the ability to publish illustrative material-tables, figures, photos of patients.