Transoral Robotic Submandibular Gland Transposition to Reconstruct Radical Tonsillar Resection Defects

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-27-2021

Publication Title

Head and Neck

First page number:

1

Last page number:

4

Abstract

© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC Significant dysphagia, pain, and risk of bleeding occur after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) radical tonsillectomy. We present a novel surgical technique utilizing robotically assisted submandibular gland transposition (SMGT) to reconstruct the radical tonsillar defect. A 48-year-old male with p16+ tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma underwent deep TORS radical tonsillectomy, contralateral tonsillectomy, ipsilateral neck dissection, and TORS-assisted reconstruction of the radical defect with ipsilateral SMGT. Postoperatively, the patient experienced minimal pain and was discharged on postoperative day (POD) 3 tolerating a soft diet. There were no episodes of postoperative bleeding. This procedure was performed in five other cases as well. Transoral robotic SMGT can be used successfully to repair deep TORS radical tonsillectomy defects and may theoretically reduce dysphagia, pain, and the risk of hemorrhage.

Keywords

Postoperative pain; Radical tonsillectomy; Submandibular gland transposition; Tonsillar cancer; Transoral robotic surgery

Disciplines

Otolaryngology

Language

English

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