Transoral robotic surgery in otolaryngology practice: a single institutional experience

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has emerged as a minimally invasive technique for managing head and neck pathologies, offering reduced morbidity and improved surgical precision. Despite its growing popularity, institutional experiences with TORS remain limited.

This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of TORS for oncological and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) cases, focusing on efficacy, safety and complications.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 61 patients who underwent TORS at a single institution between 2018 and 2024. Demographic, surgical and postoperative data were collected, including histopathological findings, complications and hospitalization duration. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA), with significance set at p < .05.

Of the 61 patients, 67.2% were male, with a mean age of 57.25 years. TORS was performed for oncological purposes in 72.1% of cases and OSAS in 27.9%. The most common surgical procedure was base-of-tongue resection (42.6%). Postoperative bleeding occurred in 11.4% of cases, all oncological, with two mortalities due to haemorrhage. Hospital readmission within 30 days occurred in 13.1% of patients. OSAS cases demonstrated shorter hospital stays and lower complication rates than oncological cases.

TORS is a safe and effective technique for both oncological and OSAS cases, offering significant benefits in reducing morbidity. However, complications, particularly bleeding in oncological cases, remain a challenge, highlighting the need for careful patient selection and perioperative management.