Transoral robotic surgery in the pediatric patient

Although the role of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is rapidly expanding in its surgical management options for both benign and malignant head and neck pathology in the adult population, its role is currently less defined in the pediatric population. Results using TORS to perform lingual tonsillectomy, laryngeal cleft repair, and oropharyngeal reconstruction with local flaps are promising, nevertheless, this technology is still in its infancy with respect to use in pediatric airway disease. The following text describes indications for utilization of TORS, operative techniques, and expected postoperative outcomes and complication profiles in the pediatric patient.