Clinical outcomes and complications associated with TORS for OSAHS: A benchmark for evaluating an emerging surgical technology in a targeted application for benign disease

Background: The aim of this study was to create benchmarks for evaluating clinical outcomes and complications of transoral robotic surgeries (TORS) in a multicenter setting. Methods: 243 TORS for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) operations, carried out between 2008 and 2012, were analyzed at 7 different centers. The average hospitalization was 3.5 days. The mean patient age was 50 ± 12 years, the average BMI at the time of the procedure was 28.53 ± 3.87 and the majority of the patients were men (81%). Results: The mean preoperative and postoperative apnea/hypopnea index was 43.0 ± 22.6 and 17.9 ± 18.4, respectively (p <0.001). The mean preoperative and postoperative Epworth Sleepiness Scale score was 12.34 ± 5.19 and 5.7 ± 3.49, respectively (p <0.001). The mean pre-and postoperative lowest O₂ saturation was 79.5 ± 8.77 and 83.9 ± 6.38%, respectively (p <0.001). Conclusions: Patients undergoing TORS as part of a multilevel approach for the treatment of OSAHS have a reasonable expectation of success with minimal long-term morbidity.