Transoral surgery using the Flex Robotic System: Initial experience in the United States

Area of Science:

• Robotic Surgery
• Head and Neck Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Initial clinical experience with the Medrobotics Flex Robotic System for transoral surgery.
• Evaluation conducted across two academic centers in the United States.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the initial experience and assess the safety and efficacy of the Flex system in transoral robotic surgery.
• To evaluate surgical success rates and complication profiles.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery with the Flex system.
• Data collected from September 2015 to May 2017.
• Analysis of surgical outcomes, including complication rates and readmissions.

Main Results:

• The Flex system was successfully utilized in diverse anatomical locations including the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx.
• A total of 68 patients (36 male, 32 female) with an average age of 55.6 years were included.
• Low complication rate observed, with only 7.6% of cases requiring readmission and no intraoperative hemorrhage.

Conclusions:

• This study represents the first evaluation in the United States of the Flex system for resecting lesions in the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx.
• The findings suggest the Flex system is a safe and effective tool for transoral robotic surgery.
• The system demonstrated successful application across a range of head and neck procedures.