title: Feasibility of transoral robotic-assisted supraglottic laryngectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to describe our experience with transoral robotic-assisted supraglottic laryngectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent transoral robotic-assisted supraglottic laryngectomy at our institution between May 2007 and November 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 7 patients with malignancy underwent the procedure (4 men, 3 women; average age, 61 years). All tumors were completely resected, with clear margins on pathologic analysis. Six patients underwent neck dissection at the time of transoral surgery. One intraoperative complication occurred: thermal injury to the anterior cervical skin. Four patients underwent primary tracheotomy tube placement, 3 of whom were decannulated without difficulty. Two patients required long-term gastrostomy tubes while receiving adjuvant radiotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supraglottic malignancies can be successfully resected transorally with robotic assistance. The potential benefits of this method are improved access and visualization. Further long-term follow-up is needed to compare oncologic and functional outcomes with those of current approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Eran E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Alon
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kasperbauer
authors.forename: Kerry D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*