Robotic surgery in ENT and head and neck during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Main Authors: Kalpana Nagpal, Noor Ul Din Malik, Suresh Singh Naruka, Nishant Rana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: Apollo Medicine
• Subjects: covid-19 pandemic; ent and head-and-neck surgery; robotic-assisted surgery
• Online Access: http://www.apollomedicine.org/article.asp?issn=0976-0016;year=2020;volume=17;issue=5;spage=18;epage=20;aulast=Nagpal

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a deep impact on the health-care system. The increased risk of contagion is especially for anesthetists, dentists, otolaryngologists, and head-and-neck surgeons. The management of ENT and head-and-neck surgical cases represents a unique challenge in the COVID-19 times. The COVID-19 pandemic posed an immense impact on ENT and head-and-neck routine and emergency surgeries. Patients needing immediate intervention when operated using robotic assistance could prove beneficial. Console surgeon is sitting at a distance to the patient and is not directly exposed to the surgical field. Short hospital stay, less blood loss, and no direct handling of tissue are some advantages. Robotic-assisted surgery in ENT and head-and-neck surgery can effectively minimize the risk of contamination of health-care providers.