Flex Robotic System in transoral robotic surgery: The first 40 patients

Head Neck. 2017 Mar;39(3):471-475. doi: 10.1002/hed.24611. Epub 2016 Oct 28.

Abstract

Background: The Flex Robotic System is a new robotic device specifically developed for transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

Methods: We performed a prospective clinical study, assessing the safety and efficacy of the Medrobotics Flex Robotic System. A total of 40 patients required a surgical procedure for benign lesions (n = 30) or T1 and T2 carcinomas (n = 10). Access and visualization of different anatomic subsites were individually graded by the surgeon. Setup times, access and visualization times, surgical results, as well as adverse events were documented intraoperatively.

Results: The lesions could be exposed and visualized properly in 38 patients (95%) who went on to have a surgical procedure performed with the Flex Robotic System, which were intraoperatively evaluated as successful. No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusion: Lesions in the oropharynx, hypopharynx, or supraglottic larynx could be successfully resected using the Flex Robotic System, thus making the system a safe and effective tool in transoral robotic surgery. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 471-475, 2017.

Keywords: flexible endoscope; head and neck tumors; laser; robotic; transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Safety
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / instrumentation
  • Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / methods*
  • Operative Time
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Patient Safety
  • Prospective Studies
  • Robotic Surgical Procedures / instrumentation*
  • Robotic Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Robotics*
  • Treatment Outcome