Expert Robotic Surgery (TORS) in Chennai

TORS (Transoral Robotic Surgery) uses the da Vinci robotic system to remove tumors through the mouth with no external incisions. Unlike traditional surgery which requires cutting through the neck or jaw, TORS accesses tumors through natural openings. Benefits include no visible scars, faster recovery, less pain, better speech and swallowing preservation, and shorter hospital stay.

Ideal candidates have early-stage oropharyngeal cancers (tonsil, tongue base), selected laryngeal cancers, or early tongue cancers. Tumor size, location, and your mouth opening are important factors. Patients with very large tumors, poor mouth opening, or tumors extending beyond reach may not be candidates. Dr. Vidhyadharan will perform detailed assessment to determine suitability.

TORS offers multiple advantages: No external scars or facial disfigurement, faster recovery (2-4 days vs 7-14 days hospitalization), less pain, better preservation of speech and swallowing, reduced need for tracheostomy and feeding tubes, lower complication rates, and potential to avoid radiation therapy in select early-stage cases.

Recovery is significantly faster than traditional surgery. Most patients are discharged in 2-4 days eating soft diet. Return to normal diet in 2-3 weeks. Return to work in 3-4 weeks. Complete healing takes 6-8 weeks. Speech and swallowing function returns to near-normal in most patients within 2-3 months.

Not always. One major advantage of TORS is potential to avoid radiation in select early-stage cases with negative margins and no lymph node involvement. However, if final pathology shows positive margins, perineural invasion, or lymph node metastases, adjuvant radiation with or without chemotherapy may be recommended. Decision is individualized based on pathology results.

TORS is generally safe with lower complication rates than traditional surgery. Possible risks include bleeding (1-2%), infection, temporary swallowing difficulty, taste changes, tongue weakness (rare), and need for temporary feeding tube (uncommon). Serious complications like airway compromise are rare. Dr. Vidhyadharan's experience minimizes these risks.

TORS costs depend on tumor complexity, extent of surgery required, need for neck dissection, hospital stay duration, ICU requirements, and individual patient factors. While robotic surgery involves advanced technology, the shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and reduced complications often balance the costs. THANC Hospital and Dr. Vidhyadharan provide world-class robotic cancer surgery with the da Vinci Xi system at economical costs. Detailed cost estimates are provided during consultation based on your specific case.

Yes, in selected cases. TORS is an excellent option for salvage surgery after radiation failure. It is less morbid than traditional salvage surgery and offers better functional outcomes. However, post-radiation tissue changes make surgery more challenging. Dr. Vidhyadharan will assess whether TORS salvage surgery is feasible based on tumor extent and radiation dose.

HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, typically affecting tonsil and tongue base, is increasingly common and has better prognosis than HPV-negative cancers. These tumors are particularly suited for TORS because they are often small, well-localized, and respond excellently to surgery. TORS allows complete tumor removal while preserving swallowing and speech function, and many patients can avoid or minimize radiation therapy, reducing long-term side effects.

Dr. Vidhyadharan is a Fellow of the Indian College of Robotic Surgeons (FICRS), the highest certification in robotic surgery in India. He completed advanced training on the da Vinci Xi system during his fellowship in Australia and has extensive experience performing TORS procedures. He is among the few surgeons in Chennai offering robotic head and neck cancer surgery, with proven outcomes in organ preservation and functional recovery.

TORS has excellent success rates for appropriately selected patients. Early-stage oropharyngeal cancers have 85-95% disease-free survival at 5 years. Functional outcomes are superior to traditional surgery, with 90-95% of patients maintaining good swallowing and speech. Complete tumor removal rates exceed 95% in experienced hands. Dr. Vidhyadharan's expertise ensures optimal oncologic and functional outcomes.

No, the da Vinci robot does not operate autonomously. Dr. Vidhyadharan controls every movement of the robotic instruments from a console, using hand and finger movements that translate to precise surgical actions. The robot provides 10x magnification with 3D high-definition vision, tremor elimination, and 7 degrees of freedom in instrument movement, enhancing the surgeon's capabilities but always under complete human control.