Financial outcomes of transoral robotic surgery: A narrative review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current cost impact and financial outcomes of transoral robotic surgery in Otolaryngology.

DATA SOURCES: A narrative review of the literature with a defined search strategy using Pubmed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science.

REVIEW METHODS: Using keywords ENT or otolaryngology, cost or economic, transoral robotic surgery or TORs, searches were performed in Pubmed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science and reviewed by the authors for inclusion and analysis.

RESULTS: Six total papers were deemed appropriate for analysis. All addressed cost impact of transoral robotic surgery (TORs) as compared to open surgical methods in treating oropharyngeal cancer and/or the identification of the primary tumor within unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma. Results showed TORs to be cost-effective.

CONCLUSION: Transoral robotic surgery is currently largely cost effective for both treatment and diagnostic procedures. However, further studies are needed to qualify long-term data.