Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 22, 2025
Identification and Protection of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve during Transoral Robotic Thyroidectomy
Published on: October 24, 2025
Transoral robotic surgery hypopharyngectomy (TORSH): feasibility and outcomes
Samantha Hassid1, Sébastien Van der Vorst2, Gilles Delahaut2
1ENT and Head and Neck Surgery Department, CHU UCL Namur- Site Godinne, Avenue du Docteur Gaston Therasse 1, 5530, Namur, Yvoir, Belgium. Samantha.hassid@uclouvain.be.
Purpose:
With the development of minimal invasive procedure, trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) is expanding in the field of ENT. Most reviews focus on oropharyngeal and laryngeal (supra-glottic) localization. We report here the feasibility and outcomes of TORS hypopharyngectomy (TORSH) for selected patients with hypopharyngeal tumor.
Methods:
Between September 2009 and July 2017, 22 patients, retrospectively included, underwent TORSH with curative intent.
Results:
From 22 successful hypopharyngectomy, no conversion to open procedure was needed. Three patients (13%) presented a post-operative bleeding and were managed by surgical revision. No fistula was encountered. The 3-year overall survival and disease-specific survival rates were 54 and 92%, respectively. Patients started oral feeding after an average of 7 days. Naso-gastric feeding tubes were removed after a median period of 16 days. Two patients (9%) needed a transient gastrostomy (< 1 year). Three patients (13%) received a transient tracheostomy (< 2 months). Median hospitalization stay was 13 days.
Conclusions:
TORSH is a safe technique. Patients' outcomes are favorable and the post-operative morbidity is reduced compared to open neck approach. Hospitalization length and safe swallowing time are reduced.
