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New robotic platform for transoral robotic surgery: an IDEAL stage 0 study
Asit Arora1,2, Jack Faulkner1,2, Vinidh Paleri3
1School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
BMJ Surgery, Interventions, & Health Technologies
|March 19, 2024
Summary
Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) using the Versius Surgical System is feasible in a preclinical cadaveric setting. Further instrument development is recommended for this new robotic platform.
Area of Science:
- Robotics in Surgery
- Surgical Innovation
- Head and Neck Surgery
Background:
- Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) offers minimally invasive options for head and neck procedures.
- The Versius Surgical System is a novel robotic platform for surgical applications.
- Preclinical assessment is crucial for evaluating new surgical technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of performing TORS using the Versius Surgical System in a preclinical cadaveric model.
- To evaluate the system's performance in core TORS procedures.
- To gather surgeon feedback on system usability and identify areas for improvement.
Main Methods:
- 11 head and neck surgeons performed 3 key TORS procedures (lateral oropharyngectomy, tongue base resection, supraglottic laryngectomy) on 6 human cadavers.
- Procedures were conducted in a simulated operating theatre.
- Feasibility and surgeon-reported outcomes were primary and secondary endpoints, respectively.
Main Results:
- 32 out of 33 procedures were successfully completed.
- Surgeon-reported outcomes indicated a minimal level of feasibility for all procedural steps.
- A consensus was reached that TORS with the Versius system is feasible, though instrument optimization is needed.
Conclusions:
- The Versius Surgical System is feasible for TORS in a preclinical cadaveric setting.
- Clinical evaluation of the Versius system for TORS is warranted.
- Further development and optimization of surgical instrumentation are recommended for broader application.
