Robot-Assisted Neck Dissection Through a Modified Facelift Incision

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the feasibility as well as oncologic outcomes of robot-assisted neck dissection (RAND) through a modified facelift incision in an American population. Study Design: Retrospective case series. Setting: University tertiary care hospital. Methods: All patients who underwent RAND between November 2012 and December 2014 were included. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, medical histories, staging, operative information, postoperative hospital course and complications, and oncologic outcomes. Results: There were 11 RANDs identified among 10 patients. Five patients had known nodal metastasis at the time of surgery. Two patients had been previously irradiated. The average time of surgery was 284.4 ± 72.3 minutes, including other associated procedures. The average lymph node yield was 28.5 ± 9.3 nodes. There were no major complications. Average follow-up was 19.4 months. There was 1 supraclavicular recurrence in a previously irradiated patient. All patients are currently alive and without evidence of disease. Conclusions: Robot-assisted neck dissection is a safe and feasible procedure that can be performed by surgeons with familiarity with neck dissection and robot-assisted surgery and who have been trained in RAND. Appropriate oncologic outcomes can be obtained in a patient wishing to avoid a noticeable scar.