Robot-assisted surgery feasible for head and neck cancer
Source: www.medscape.com Author: Roxanne Nelson Robot-assisted surgery appears feasible for resection of select upper aerodigestive tract tumors, according to a study published in the April issue of Archives of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery. Researchers found that the surgical robot had several advantages over traditional endoscopic and open approaches, such as 3-dimensional visualization, tremor filtration, and greater freedom of instrument movement. "Robotic surgery in head and neck patients is still considered investigational," said senior author William Carroll, MD, associate professor of surgery and otolaryngology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. "The procedure is under consideration by the [US Food and Drug Administration] for an approved indication." The key message from this study is that this technology could prove useful for the surgical management of select patients with head and neck cancers. "We hope to see similar or improved cure rates with fewer side effects and quicker return to function," he told Medscape Oncology. Since they were introduced a decade ago, robot-assisted surgeries have become widely accepted in the United States, especially for cardiac, gynecologic, and urologic procedures. The authors note that in 2007, about 60% of all radical prostatectomies were performed with robot assistance, and that robot-assisted cardiac and urological procedures can result in less blood loss and fewer complications than standard open approaches. In addition, the use of robots in cardiac surgery has had a favorable effect on operative time, length of stay in intensive care units, and length of overall inpatient care days, compared with open [...]