Ichiro Tateya1, Yoon Woo Koh2, Raymond K Tsang3, Steven S Hong4, Ryuji Uozumi5, Yo Kishimoto1, Taro Sugimoto6, F Christopher Holsinger4. 1. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Division of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 4. Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California. 5. Department of Biomedical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. 6. Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this cadaveric study was to determine the efficacy of a flexible, next-generation robotic surgical system for transoral robotic hypopharyngectomy. METHODS: A comparative evaluation study of the flexible versus rigid robotic surgical systems for the hypopharynx was conducted using 3 cadavers. Endpoints for assessment were visualization of the hypopharynx, access to the hypopharynx, and difficulty of dissection. Hypopharyngectomy was performed on 3 other cadavers using the da Vinci Sp surgical system. RESULTS: Access to the apex of the pyriform sinus and the esophageal inlet was easier with the da Vinci Sp than with the da Vinci Si. Dissection with the da Vinci Sp was easier in all areas of the hypopharynx than with the da Vinci Si. Robotic hypopharyngectomy was successfully completed on all cadavers using the da Vinci Sp surgical system. CONCLUSION: Preclinical testing in human cadavers suggests that flexible robotic surgery may facilitate successful transoral hypopharyngectomy.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this cadaveric study was to determine the efficacy of a flexible, next-generation robotic surgical system for transoral robotic hypopharyngectomy. METHODS: A comparative evaluation study of the flexible versus rigid robotic surgical systems for the hypopharynx was conducted using 3 cadavers. Endpoints for assessment were visualization of the hypopharynx, access to the hypopharynx, and difficulty of dissection. Hypopharyngectomy was performed on 3 other cadavers using the da Vinci Sp surgical system. RESULTS: Access to the apex of the pyriform sinus and the esophageal inlet was easier with the da Vinci Sp than with the da Vinci Si. Dissection with the da Vinci Sp was easier in all areas of the hypopharynx than with the da Vinci Si. Robotic hypopharyngectomy was successfully completed on all cadavers using the da Vinci Sp surgical system. CONCLUSION: Preclinical testing in human cadavers suggests that flexible robotic surgery may facilitate successful transoral hypopharyngectomy.