Highlights
- Primary TORS for OPSCC yields excellent short-term swallowing outcomes with most patients tolerating oral intake by hospital discharge.
- Early postoperative evaluation and swallow rehabilitation by speech-language pathologists (SLP) are integral in optimizing recovery.
- Despite patient-reported worsening of swallowing perception at 6 weeks post-TORS, objective videofluoroscopic swallow studies demonstrate minimal functional decline.
- Complication rates including enteral feeding tube requirements remain low, underscoring TORS safety in experienced tertiary centers.
Background
