Transoral robotic surgery

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is a modern surgical technique used to treat tumors of the throat via direct access through the mouth. Transoral robotic sleep apnea (TORSA) surgery utilizes the same approach to open the upper airway of those with obstructive sleep apnea. This technique has gained popularity thanks to its wristed instruments and magnified three-dimensional view, enhancing surgical comfort and precision in remote-access areas.^[1]

In TORS and TORSA procedures, the surgeon uses a surgical robot to view and access structures in the oral cavity (mouth), pharynx (back of the throat) and larynx (voicebox) without any incisions through the neck, chin or lip (these incisions are necessary in traditional, non-robotic approaches). Current TORS indications include excision of tumors of the oropharynx (tonsils, soft palate, base of tongue, posterior pharyngeal wall), hypopharynx and larynx (epiglottis...). Its use has been extended to approaches of the parapharyngeal space and skull base. The TORSA technique is used for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, hemiglossectomy, and other airway procedures.