Robot-assisted, volumetric tongue base reduction and pharyngeal surgery for obstructive sleep apnea

A structured approach to Surgery for OSA has been clearly defined and accepted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The aim of surgery is to address the collapsibility of structures of the upper airway.The da Vinci Robot (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, California, USA) has been validated and now approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an adjunct to transoral surgery. Trans Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS) has been proved to be useful in resection of oropharyngeal malignancy and some benign tumours of the parapharyngeal space. This is due to the excellent visual and instrument access, as well as the loss of tremor.The application of TORS for a variety of surgical procedures for sleep apnea is described.