Transoral surgery allows ENT surgeons to perform minimally invasive endoscopic surgery and remove cancer of the throat and mouth through the mouth, as well as to treat severe sleep apnea. Rather than making any exterior incisions in the jaw or throat, the surgeon introduces surgical instruments through the mouth, one of the body’s natural orifices. Fewer incisions mean less pain and blood loss and a quicker recovery for the patient. At Northside Hospital, this procedure can be performed robotically.
In robotic TORS, the robot's precise wrist-like action allows the surgeon to work in multiple directions in tight spaces and with the capability to work around corners. Robotic technology allows the surgeon to provide the patient with procedures equivalent to traditional transoral surgery, but with the advantage of 3-D high-definition visualization of the surgical site and improved precision when removing malignant tissue.
Northside was the first in Atlanta to perform robotic TORS for ENT surgery and was the first hospital in Georgia to use the Flex® Robotic System, which employs a unique, flexible, robotic scope that precisely moves through the throat’s natural twists and turns.
Read more about our Advanced Robotic Surgery Program.
ENT surgeons at Northside are using traditional and robotic TORS to perform:
The standard treatment of OSA is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). However, when surgery is needed, Northside offers the latest treatment therapies for people suffering from OSA.
TORS may be performed to remove the obstructive tissue at the base of the tongue and next in order to improve breathing and complications.
Northside also was the first in Atlanta to use Inspire® therapy, a small, fully implanted system that senses breathing patterns and delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, which keeps the airway open during sleep.
Read about other treatments for OSA at Northside.
