Feasibility of robot-assisted submandibular gland resection via retroauricular approach: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To present the surgical technique and feasibility of robot-assisted submandibular gland (SMG) resection via retroauricular approach. STUDY DESIGN Feasibility study of case series. METHODS We performed robot-assisted SMG resection on five patients with benign SMG tumors. The surgical complications, operation time, amount of bleeding, amount and duration of drainage, and duration of hospital stay were reviewed. RESULTS The surgery was successful in all patients without any significant complications. The mean operation time was 62.4 ± 6.3 minutes, amount of bleeding was 10.4 ± 3.2 mL, amount of drainage was 149.8 ± 114.7 mL (3.2 ± 1.6 days), and duration of hospital stay was 4.2 ± 1.8 days. All patients showed excellent cosmetic satisfaction because the postoperative scar was hidden by the auricle and hair. CONCLUSIONS Robot-assisted SMG resection was feasible without any significant complications and satisfactory cosmetic results. The safety and oncologic outcome of the procedure should be verified with larger number of patients and longer follow up period.