Doctors tested a newer version of a surgical robot called the da Vinci 5 to remove cancers and other growths from the back of the throat. In their first seven patients, the surgery went smoothly with very few problems. All patients went home the next day and could eat soft foods right away. The results were similar to what doctors see with older robot versions. While these early results look promising, doctors need to study more patients to make sure this newer robot works just as well as the older ones for treating throat cancer long-term.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a newer surgical robot (da Vinci 5) could safely remove cancers and growths from the back of the throat using a special technique that goes through the mouth instead of making cuts in the neck
  • Who participated: Seven patients at one hospital who needed surgery on the back of their throat: five had throat cancer caused by HPV (a virus), one had a suspected lymphoma, and one had a benign growth
  • Key finding: All seven surgeries were completed successfully with the new robot. Only one patient had bleeding after surgery that needed treatment, and all patients went home the next day able to eat soft foods. No patients needed a breathing tube placed in their neck.
  • What it means for you: If you or someone you know needs throat surgery, this newer robot appears to be a safe option. However, this is very early experience with only seven patients, so more research is needed before doctors can say if it’s better than older robot versions or traditional surgery.

The Research Details

Doctors looked back at records from seven patients who had surgery using the new da Vinci 5 robot at their hospital. They collected information about each patient’s age, the type of cancer or growth they had, how long the surgery took, any problems that happened, and how well patients recovered. This type of study is called a ‘case report’ or ‘case series’ because it describes what happened with a small group of patients treated with a new tool.

The surgeons used a special technique called ’transoral robotic surgery,’ which means the robot’s tools go through the mouth to reach the back of the throat. This avoids making cuts in the neck, which can cause more pain and longer recovery. The da Vinci 5 is a newer version of a robot that has been used for this type of surgery before, but this was one of the first times doctors used this specific newer model for throat surgery.

The doctors recorded everything that happened during and after surgery, including whether the cancer was completely removed, if there were any bleeding or other problems, and how quickly patients could eat and go home.

When doctors introduce a new surgical tool, they need to make sure it’s safe and works well before recommending it widely. This study provides important early information about whether the newer da Vinci 5 robot can do the job safely. By comparing their results to what other doctors have reported with older robot versions, they can see if the new tool is at least as good as what was already being used.

This study has some important limitations to understand: it only included seven patients from one hospital, which is a very small group. The doctors looked back at what already happened (called a retrospective study) rather than planning the study in advance. With such a small number of patients, it’s hard to know if the results would be the same with more people. The study doesn’t compare the new robot directly to older robots or to traditional surgery, so we can’t say yet if it’s better. However, the fact that all surgeries went well and results matched what other doctors have reported with older robots is a good sign.

What the Results Show

All seven surgeries using the new da Vinci 5 robot were completed successfully. Five patients had throat cancer caused by HPV (a virus that can lead to cancer), one patient had a suspected lymphoma that needed diagnosis, and one patient had a benign (non-cancerous) growth. Among the five cancer patients, two had small tumors and three had medium-sized tumors.

The surgery went smoothly for all patients. Importantly, no patient needed a breathing tube placed in their neck after surgery, which is significant because this procedure can cause discomfort and longer recovery. Only one patient (about 14%) had bleeding after surgery, and this was controlled by a procedure called embolization (where doctors block the bleeding vessel using a catheter).

All seven patients were able to go home the very next day after surgery. This is excellent recovery time. They were all able to start eating soft foods by mouth right away, which means their throat healed quickly enough to swallow safely. For the five cancer patients, the surgeons were able to remove all the visible cancer in four patients. One patient needed a second surgery because a small amount of cancer was found at the edge of the removed tissue, but this was caught and treated.

These results are very similar to what other doctors have reported when using older versions of the da Vinci robot for the same type of surgery, which suggests the newer model works just as well.

The study also tracked what happened to patients after surgery. Some patients needed additional cancer treatment (like radiation therapy) after surgery, which is standard for certain types of throat cancer. The early follow-up information available showed that patients were recovering well, though the study didn’t provide detailed long-term outcomes since this was very early experience with the new robot.

Doctors have been using robotic surgery for throat cancer for about 15 years, and the results with older da Vinci robots have been quite good. This new study shows that the newer da Vinci 5 robot appears to work similarly to the older versions based on these early cases. The surgery times, complication rates, and recovery times all look comparable to what has been reported before. However, this is just the beginning of experience with this newer model, and larger studies will be needed to confirm that it’s truly equivalent to or better than older robots.

This study is very small with only seven patients, making it hard to draw strong conclusions. It only looked at patients from one hospital, so the results might not apply everywhere. The doctors looked back at what already happened rather than planning a study in advance, which can introduce errors. There was no comparison group—no patients treated with older robots or traditional surgery—so we can’t say if the new robot is better. The follow-up time was short, so we don’t know about long-term cancer survival or quality of life. Finally, because this is so early in the experience with this new robot, results might improve as surgeons become more experienced with it.

The Bottom Line

Based on this early experience, the da Vinci 5 robot appears to be a safe option for throat surgery in experienced hands. However, because this is very early data from only seven patients, doctors should continue using it cautiously while gathering more information. Patients considering this surgery should discuss with their surgeon whether they have experience with this specific robot model and ask about their outcomes. Confidence level: Low to Moderate (based on small sample size and early experience).

This research is most relevant to patients with throat cancer or other throat growths who are considering robotic surgery, and to surgeons who perform these procedures. Patients should know that while this newer robot shows promise, it’s still very new and more research is needed. People with throat cancer should discuss all treatment options with their cancer team, including whether robotic surgery, traditional surgery, or other treatments are best for their specific situation.

Based on this study, patients who have this surgery can expect to go home the next day and start eating soft foods right away. However, full recovery and return to normal eating may take several weeks. For cancer patients, it typically takes several weeks to know if additional treatment like radiation is needed. Long-term outcomes (like whether the cancer stays away) take months to years to evaluate.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you’ve had or are considering robotic throat surgery, track your recovery milestones: date of surgery, when you could eat soft foods, when you returned to normal diet, when you returned to normal activities, and any complications or concerns. Note any follow-up appointments and additional treatments needed.
  • Users considering throat surgery can use the app to: (1) record questions to ask their surgeon about their experience with the da Vinci 5 robot, (2) track their recovery timeline if they have the surgery, (3) monitor any symptoms or complications, and (4) keep records of follow-up appointments and pathology results.
  • For long-term tracking, users should monitor: healing progress in the first 2-4 weeks, ability to return to normal eating and drinking, any voice or swallowing changes, follow-up imaging or endoscopy results, and any signs of cancer recurrence (as directed by their cancer team). Set reminders for follow-up appointments with their surgical and oncology teams.

This research describes early experience with a new surgical tool in only seven patients. It is not a recommendation for or against any specific treatment. Throat cancer and other throat conditions require individualized treatment planning by qualified medical professionals. Patients should discuss all treatment options, including risks and benefits, with their surgeon and cancer team before making decisions. This study does not provide enough evidence to determine if the da Vinci 5 robot is better than other surgical options. Always consult with your healthcare provider about what treatment is best for your specific situation.