We are just at the beginning of discovering uses for robotics in head and neck surgery, similar to when DOS was the only operating system for computers. At present, robotics allows removal of tumor and provides a bird’s eye view in areas that heretofore had difficult transoral access. I don’t have a crystal ball, but the types of approaches for robotics will continue to increase dramatically, Dr. Weinstein said. For me and for my patients, it is an incredibly exciting time.
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September 2007There is unlimited potential for the application of robotics in head and neck surgery, said Dr. O’Malley. He predicted that 80% of the range of types of ENT surgeries will be performed with some aspects of robotics within the next 25 years, including head and neck, ear, sinus, certain cosmetic and skull-based procedures.
©2007 The Triological Society