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RACS ASC 2026
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History and Advancements in Transoral Robotic Surgery
Poster

Poster

Disciplines

Surgical History

Presentation Description

Institution: Queen Elizabeth Hospital - SA, Australia

Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) for head and neck malignancies has gained popularity in recent years. The use of robotic surgical systems began in 1985 with the Puma 560, which was used to perform targeted neurosurgical procedures. Further advancements led to the development of several commercial systems, such as the da Vinci surgical system. The adoption of robotic surgery occurred in the early 2000s, when Haus et al. published their findings on the application of surgical robotics in otolaryngology in pigs. In 2005, McLeod and Medler were the first to perform a Da Vinci robot-assisted excision of a vallecular cyst. TORS was introduced by Weinstein et al. in 2007, in a study on radical tonsillectomy. A milestone was reached in 2009, when the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of TORS for T1-T2 malignancies of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx. Since then, there has been a growing influx of publications regarding the role of TORS in the management of head and neck malignancies. Surgical expertise is a significant factor influencing surgical outcomes in TORS, with some studies suggesting an initial learning curve of 20 to 30 cases.4 With continued innovation, the ability of robotic surgical systems to assist surgeons will continue to increase, with the aim of achieving better surgical outcomes.
Presenters
Authors
Authors

Dr Maryam Khan -