Robotic Head & Neck Surgery | Da Vinci Surgery

Head and neck conditions

Conditions of the head and neck cover a wide range. They include both noncancerous and cancerous conditions related to the mouth, soft palate, tongue, throat, and tonsils.

It’s important to learn about the many options for care available. You and your doctor can discuss your choices and decide which approach is right for you.

Doctor giving advice to a head and neck patient

Types of surgery

In the past, surgeons made large incisions in skin and muscle so that they could directly see and work on the area of concern. This is called open surgery. Today doctors still perform open surgery, but can also perform some head and neck procedures using minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery, possibly with da Vinci technology.

Both minimally invasive surgical options require a few small incisions that doctors use to insert surgical equipment and a camera for viewing. In head and neck surgery, doctors use special long-handled tools to perform surgery while viewing magnified images from the laparoscope (camera) on a video screen.

What is a da Vinci surgical system?

Da Vinci surgical systems are comprised of three components: surgeon console, patient-side cart, and vision cart. The da Vinci system is used for surgery, but it does not treat cancer.

Surgeon console

The surgeon console is where your surgeon sits during the procedure, has a crystal-clear 3DHD view of your anatomy, and controls the instruments. The tiny instruments are “wristed” and move like a human hand, but with a far greater range of motion.

Surgeons in Operating Room with the da vinci system

Patient cart

The patient-side cart is positioned near the patient on the operating table. It is where the instruments used during the operation move in real time in response to your surgeon’s hand movements at the surgeon console.

Vision cart

The vision cart makes communication between the components of the system possible and provides a screen for the care team to view the operation.

It’s important to remember that Intuitive does not provide medical advice. After discussing all options with your doctor, only you and your doctor can determine whether surgery with the da Vinci system is appropriate for your situation. You should always ask your surgeon about his or her training, experience, and patient outcomes.

Learn more

Robotic-assisted head and neck procedures

Surgery for benign and malignant tumors of the mouth and throat classified as T1 and T2 using the da Vinci Si and da Vinci SP systems
Benign base of tongue resections using the da Vinci Si system

Talk with your doctor if you have any additional questions about these procedures.

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Disclosures and important safety information

Important safety information

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if surgery with a Da Vinci system is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on nonsurgical and surgical options and associated risks in order to make an informed decision.

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including surgery with a da Vinci system, up to and including death. Serious risks include, but are not limited to, injury to tissues and organs and conversion to other surgical techniques which could result in a longer operative time and/or increased complications.

For important safety information, including surgical risks and considerations, please also refer to www.intuitive.com/safety. For a product’s intended use and/or indications for use, risks, full cautions and warnings, please refer to the associated User Manual(s).

Individuals’ outcomes may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and/or surgeon experience.

Da Vinci SP system (TORS and URO)

The safety and effectiveness of this device for use in the performance of general laparoscopic surgery procedures have not been established. This device is only intended to be used for single port urological procedures and for transoral otolaryngology surgical procedures in the oropharynx for benign tumors and malignant tumors classified as T1 and T2 with the da Vinci EndoWrist SP Instruments and the da Vinci SP surgical system (SP1098).

Medical advice and locating a doctor

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci surgery is right for them. Other options may be available and appropriate. Only a doctor can determine whether da Vinci surgery is appropriate for a patient’s situation. Patients and doctors should review all available information on both nonsurgical and surgical options in order to make an informed decision.

Surgeons experienced with the da Vinci system can be found using the Surgeon Locator. Intuitive Surgical provides surgeons training on the use of the da Vinci system but does not certify, credential or qualify the surgeons listed in the Surgeon Locator.

Product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical or their respective owners. See www.intuitive.com/trademarks.

Intuitive for Head and Neck Patients

Head and neck conditions

What is a da Vinci surgical system?

Robotic-assisted head and neck procedures