Patient Information About Robotic Head and Neck Surgery
What is robotic surgery?
Robotic-assisted head and neck surgery is a cutting-edge surgical technique that allows surgeons to perform sophisticated operations to help people with diseases of the head and neck.
The robotic system offers surgeons improved visualization and greater dexterity, allowing them to operate in hard-to-reach areas of the body.
How robotic head and neck surgery works
- Watching from a 3D view of the surgical area from a nearby remote control console, the surgeon uses devices to manipulate the surgical instruments, allowing for a degree of precision and control that can’t be achieved using standard minimally invasive techniques.
- Each time the surgeon moves one of the controls, the robotic system scales down the motions, translating them into precise movements at the instrument's tip.
- The system also filters out any minor hand tremors, enhancing precision and safety.
Because the device’s arms bend and have a range of motion similar to the human wrist, surgeons are able to maneuver instruments more easily than in traditional minimally invasive procedures. This helps operate more easily in the small spaces of the mouth and throat.
Having better access to hard-to-reach areas makes it possible for surgeons to perform delicate and complex operations that may be difficult or impossible with other methods.
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Who can benefit from robotic surgery?
Many people, both adults and children, can benefit from robotic head and neck surgery, including those with:
- tumors or masses of the head and neck, such as:
- the voice box
- tonsil
- base of the tongue
- thyroid nodules and parathyroid adenomas that need to be removed without a neck incision
- refractory sleep apnea
- a cleft of the voice box causing aspiration
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What are the advantages of robotic surgery?
Robotic-assisted head and neck surgery can have many advantages over traditional surgery, including:
- removal of tumors of the head and neck without the need for breathing tubes
- diminished scarring
- faster recovery
- reduced pain
People with early-stage cancers of the base of the tongue and tonsil can often be treated with robotic surgery and therefore reduce the amount of radiation and/or chemotherapy.
Similarly, people with thyroid nodules can have thyroid surgery without a scar in the neck, which is particularly attractive for younger patients.
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