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Transoral robotic surgery hypopharyngectomy (TORSH): feasibility and outcomes

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

With the development of minimal invasive procedure, trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) is expanding in the field of ENT. Most reviews focus on oropharyngeal and laryngeal (supra-glottic) localization. We report here the feasibility and outcomes of TORS hypopharyngectomy (TORSH) for selected patients with hypopharyngeal tumor.

Methods

Between September 2009 and July 2017, 22 patients, retrospectively included, underwent TORSH with curative intent.

Results

From 22 successful hypopharyngectomy, no conversion to open procedure was needed. Three patients (13%) presented a post-operative bleeding and were managed by surgical revision. No fistula was encountered. The 3-year overall survival and disease-specific survival rates were 54 and 92%, respectively. Patients started oral feeding after an average of 7 days. Naso-gastric feeding tubes were removed after a median period of 16 days. Two patients (9%) needed a transient gastrostomy (< 1 year). Three patients (13%) received a transient tracheostomy (< 2 months). Median hospitalization stay was 13 days.

Conclusions

TORSH is a safe technique. Patients’ outcomes are favorable and the post-operative morbidity is reduced compared to open neck approach. Hospitalization length and safe swallowing time are reduced.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENT and Head and Neck Surgery Department, CHU UCL Namur- Site Godinne, Avenue du Docteur Gaston Therasse 1, 5530, Namur, Yvoir, Belgium

    Samantha Hassid, Sébastien Van der Vorst, Gilles Delahaut & Georges Lawson

  2. Centre de Technologies Moléculaires Appliquées, Institut de Recherche Experimentale et Clinique, UCL, Brussels, Belgium

    Jérome Ambroise

Authors
  1. Samantha Hassid
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  2. Sébastien Van der Vorst
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  3. Gilles Delahaut
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  4. Jérome Ambroise
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  5. Georges Lawson
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by HS, VS, and LG. Statistical analysis was done by AJ. The first draft of the manuscript was written by HS and all authors commented on the previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samantha Hassid.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

Ethics Review Committee Institution of the CHU Namur approved the current research protocol: B039201938846.

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Hassid, S., Van der Vorst, S., Delahaut, G. et al. Transoral robotic surgery hypopharyngectomy (TORSH): feasibility and outcomes. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 2883–2892 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05984-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05984-y

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