Robot-assisted level II-IV neck dissection through a modified facelift incision: initial North American experience.

[BACKGROUND] Cosmesis is of increasing importance to the otolaryngology patient population. This is the first report of clinical outcomes of robot-assisted neck dissection by North American groups.

[METHODS] This is a retrospective case-control study. Cases included three patients who underwent isolated, ipsilateral robot-assisted neck dissection. Operative time, estimated blood loss, lymph node retrieval, total drainage, hospital stay and complications from this group were compared against the outcomes of six consecutive patients who underwent conventional neck dissection.

[RESULTS] Operative times were longer in robot-assisted neck dissection (mean 234 min) compared with the conventional neck dissection (mean 110 min). There were no significant differences between the two groups in other outcomes.

[CONCLUSIONS] Robot-assisted selective neck dissection of levels II-IV is feasible through a modified facelift incision. Our initial data suggest that this procedure is surgically sound. It should be applied by experienced surgeons who wish to avoid a cervical incision.