Transoral Robotic Surgery
Treating Cancers of the Throat • Curing Sleep Apnea
The Head & Neck Center at Sacred Heart Hospital is one of only a handful of centers in the country—and the only Head & Neck Center in Wisconsin—currently offering patients a revolutionary, new robotic surgical option for obstructive sleep apnea and the treatment of tumors of the throat.
Called Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS), this innovative procedure is being done by our double board certified otolaryngologist and facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Robert DeFatta, MD, PhD.
Conventional Open Surgery
Conventional open surgery for sleep apnea and tumors involving the throat typically require a large incision resulting in a significant cosmetic deformity and the possibility of speech and swallowing problems.
The Benefits of TORS
The TORS minimally invasive surgical approach allows Dr. DeFatta to reach areas of the throat that have not been accessible before with a superior level of precision, control and ease. The entire TORS procedure is performed through the mouth, eliminating the need to make a single external incision.
While sitting at a console that controls the equipment, Dr. DeFatta uses refined robotic arms as laparoscopic instruments to maneuver and manipulate the tiniest of movements—allowing a more accurate, delicate operation. The technology <http://www.sacredhearteauclaire.org/davinci-videos> extends surgical capabilities beyond the limits of the human hand by providing a high-resolution, three-dimensional view of the operating field, as well as natural, intuitive instrument control and depth of field.
Benefits to the patient are numerous, including:
· Shorter hospital stay
· Easier recovery
· Faster return to normal activity
· Less tissue damage
· Less risk of infection
______________________________
Dr. DeFatta on TORS
for Cancer
“In the past, cancers of the throat were treated with a
combination of radiation and chemotherapy—which frequently resulted in the
patient needing a feeding tube for the rest of his or her life. By resecting
the tumor with the da Vinci robot first, we are entering a new era in treatment
of throat cancer, where we can reduce the amount of radiation and chemotherapy
that’s delivered. In fact, we have almost eliminated the need for a feeding
tube and enabled the patient to return to normal speech and swallowing function
soon after his or her surgery.”
Dr. DeFatta on TORS
for Sleep Apnea
“Obstructive sleep apnea can often be caused by a collapse
of the upper airway due to a large tongue base. The condition can be very difficult
to manage and have a significant impact on the quality of life of those who
suffer from it. The TORS procedure allows us to use the small robotic surgical
instruments of the da Vinci robot to safely remove obstructive tissue
interfering with the patient’s breathing. Patients who have the TORS procedure
typically go home in two to three days as compared to ten days with
conventional open surgery.”
