Robotic Surgery: its use in Otorhinolaryngology
Written by:"Robotic Surgery in Otorhinolaryngology is a less invasive surgery, with functional as well as aesthetic advantages", Prof.. Giuseppe Spriano, expert in Otorhinolaryngology in Rome
The Robotic Surgery uses a robot capable of reproducing the movements of the Surgeon, who maneuvers him from a console. The Surgeon controls 3 arms: a 3D camera is mounted on one arm, while the other two are equipped with two small articulated "hands". The 3 arms are inserted into the patient's mouth. Thanks to the camera, the Surgeon can see in the patient's mouth: the camera, in fact, is equipped with an excellent lighting and rotation system , which allows you to explore even the less visible areas. The two small hands are able to faithfully reproduce any movement of the Surgeon, but have the advantage of being able to reach even very narrow areas, such as the throat .
The Robotic Surgery, therefore, can be used to reach those areas that are inaccessible to traditional surgery, such as the deepest area of the pharynx or larynx.
Robotics is used for the resection of the tongue base in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea , a disease in which the interruption of breathing occurs during sleep due to a collapse of the respiratory tract. The most important application, however, concerns the use of robotic surgery in the case of pharyngeal or larynx tumors, especially those that originate between the back of the tongue and the larynx.. Small -sized tumors are removed through the mouth without the need to pass through the neck or jaw, as was previously done. Basically it is a less invasive surgery, with functional advantages (patients recover swallowing and phonation more quickly), as well as aesthetic.