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DaVinci Single-Port transoral robotic surgery is feasible across multiple indications including oncology and sleep apneaSingle-Port Robot Shows Promise for Sleep Apnea Surgery

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Key Takeaway
Note that DaVinci Single-Port TORS is feasible across multiple indications including oncology and sleep apnea.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the feasibility of DaVinci Single-Port (SP) transoral robotic surgery (TORS) across various indications, including oncologic cases, obstructive sleep apnea, and reconstructive procedures. The analysis included data from 479 patients to assess perioperative performance, safety, and functional recovery.

Key findings indicate that SP TORS is feasible for multiple clinical applications. Reported metrics include a mean console time of 60.04 minutes (95% CI 29.56-90.51), docking time of 10.13 minutes (95% CI 0.47-19.79), and operative time of 57.72 minutes (95% CI 37.23-78.21). The mean length of stay was 10.63 days (95% CI 2.43-18.82) with a mean blood loss of 24.16 mL (95% CI -6.95 to 55.27). While bleeding was the most common complication, major bleeding requiring operative management was reported as uncommon.

Several limitations were noted, including nonrandomized study designs, inconsistent long-term reporting, and significant between-study heterogeneity. Additionally, no studies reported intraoperative conversions to multiport or open surgery. While functional recovery suggested early oral intake, the specific timing of such milestones was inconsistently reported across the included data. These findings suggest that SP TORS is a feasible option for various transoral indications, though evidence quality varies due to study design limitations.

A new analysis of 479 patients finds that single-port robotic surgery for obstructive sleep apnea and other throat conditions is feasible. The procedure, called transoral robotic surgery using the da Vinci single-port system, was studied across several types of surgery, including tongue-base procedures for sleep apnea and cancer removal.

On average, the surgery took about 58 minutes, with docking time around 10 minutes and console time about 60 minutes. Blood loss averaged 24 mL, and hospital stay averaged 10.6 days. Bleeding was the most common complication, but major bleeding requiring surgery was uncommon.

However, the evidence comes from nonrandomized studies with high variability between them. Long-term results were not consistently reported. The analysis did not compare single-port surgery to other approaches, so it is unclear if it is better or worse than standard treatments.

For now, single-port robotic surgery appears to be a reasonable option for certain throat surgeries, but more rigorous studies are needed to confirm its benefits and risks. Patients should discuss all treatment options with their doctor.

What this means for you:
Single-port robotic surgery for sleep apnea is feasible but needs more study to compare with standard treatments.

Common questions

What is single-port robotic surgery for sleep apnea?

It is a type of throat surgery using the da Vinci single-port system to treat obstructive sleep apnea by removing or tightening tissue at the base of the tongue.

Is single-port robotic surgery safe?

The review found bleeding was the most common complication, but major bleeding requiring surgery was uncommon. No patients needed to switch to a different surgical approach.

How does single-port surgery compare to other treatments?

This analysis did not compare single-port surgery to other treatments, so it is unclear if it is better or worse than standard options like CPAP or other surgeries.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis
Sample sizen = 479
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedJun 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
The DaVinci Single-Port (SP) transoral robotic surgery (TORS) platform was developed to overcome spatial constraints and instrument collisions encountered with multiport systems in head and neck surgery. We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed perioperative performance, safety, functional recovery, and oncologic outcomes of SP TORS. Following PRISMA 2020, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and the first 25 pages of Google Scholar through January 1, 2026. Peer-reviewed English-language clinical and cadaveric studies evaluating SP TORS were included. Three reviewers screened studies and extracted data. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed where appropriate. Fourteen studies (2019-2025) including 479 patients met inclusion criteria. Patient-level evidence was concentrated in oncologic cohorts, with additional smaller clinical applications in obstructive sleep apnoea-related tongue-base surgery (37 patients), hypopharyngeal foreign body removal (1 patient), parapharyngeal space surgery (2 patients), and SP-assisted reconstruction (3 patients), as well as preclinical feasibility studies. No study reported intraoperative conversion to multiport or open surgery. Pooled estimates were console time 60.04 min (95% CI 29.56-90.51; I² = 99.1%), docking time 10.13 min (0.47-19.79; I² = 97.9%), operative time 57.72 min (37.23-78.21; I² = 0.0%), length of stay 10.63 days (2.43-18.82; I² = 99.8%), and blood loss 24.16 mL (- 6.95 to 55.27; I² = 86.8%). Bleeding was the most consistently reported surgical complication, with major bleeding requiring operative management reported in larger cohorts but remaining uncommon. Functional recovery suggested early oral intake, although timing was inconsistently reported. Margin status was predominantly R0 in several oncologic cohorts, although one matched cohort reported a lower R0 rate. SP TORS appears feasible across indications, but current evidence is limited by nonrandomized designs, inconsistent long-term reporting, and between-study heterogeneity.
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