Clinical outcomes of transoral robotic supraglottic laryngectomy.

BACKGROUND: Transoral, minimally invasive organ preservation surgeries are being increasingly used for laryngopharyngeal carcinomas to avoid the toxicities of combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy regimens. This study investigates the efficiency, safety, and functional outcomes of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) supraglottic laryngectomy.

METHODS: Patients with laryngeal cancer who underwent TORS supraglottic laryngectomy and participated in a prospective TORS study between 2008 and 2011 at an academic medical center are presented.

RESULTS: Thirteen of 126 patients underwent TORS supraglottic laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer. Average robotic operative time and estimated blood loss were 25.3 minutes and 15.4 mL, respectively. Negative surgical margins were achieved in all patients. Eleven patients were started on an oral diet within 24 hours of surgery with no evidence of immediate airway compromise. Two patients (15.4%) received adjuvant radiation therapy based on pathology.

CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, TORS supraglottic laryngectomy was a safe procedure with good functional outcomes.