Oropharyngeal Stenosis After Transoral Robotic Lingual Tonsillectomy

Abstract

Transoral robotic-assisted lingual tonsillectomy seems to confirm good tolerability with efficient results in both adult and pediatric populations, and the complication rate is usually dependent on the specific procedure and not related to the use of the robotic techniques. In these clinical reports, a 44-year-old woman (patient 1) and a 49-year-old woman (patient 2) were referred to our clinic with long-term complaints of dysphagia, snoring, and globus sensation. The patients were diagnosed with a lingual tonsillar hypertrophy, and lingual tonsillectomy was performed through transoral robotic surgery using the robotic da Vinci surgical system. After 2 months of uneventful follow-up, the patients returned with dysphagia, and examination of the patients revealed a cicatricial synechia surrounding the oropharynx. We report 2 cases of oropharyngeal stenosis that occurred during the late postoperative period after transoral assisted lingual tonsillectomy with epiglottoplasty. Possible risk factors and treatment alternatives were also discussed.