title: Transoral robotic surgery with laser for head and neck cancers: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of a flexible thulium laser coupled with a novel robotic introducer for head and neck cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective nonrandomized clinical trial, 58 patients were evaluated. When indicated, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) with laser was performed using an Intuitive da Vinci S System with the Intuitive Surgical® Endo Wrist Introducer, 5Fr to hold and position thulium surgical laser fibers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients underwent TORS with laser for early supraglottic and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. All approaches were successfully completed without the need for microscopic/open conversion or positive margins to the final pathological study. No intraoperative adverse events occurred and recovery was relatively quick, with no evidence of disease recurrence at the time of reporting, the short observation time notwithstanding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our preliminary experience, TORS with laser showed feasible and promising results. Further studies are mandatory to demonstrate thulium laser benefits in surgical and oncological practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy. pcanzio@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benazzo
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Canzi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Occhini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013932:Thulium; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D013932:Thulium