Nursing care for patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery.

Abstract

Otorhinolaryngologists began developing new operative techniques to minimize open surgical resections of the head and neck. While striving to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with head and neck surgery and decrease the many psychosocial issues facing these patients, a new procedure defined as Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) was developed. With the development of new surgical techniques, nursing care must also change to meet the needs of the patient. As the TORS procedure becomes fully defined, so is nursing's role in the care of the patient. This paper aims to define TORS and discuss the nursing care of the patient undergoing this new surgical procedure.