First FDA-approved robot-assisted microsurgery for head and neck cancer performed at Cedars-Sinai

Cedars-Sinai has successfully performed the first robot-assisted microsurgical head and neck cancer reconstructive surgery in the United States after the robot device received Food and Drug Administration approval for the procedure, marking a significant milestone in surgical advancements.

This procedure underscores Cedars-Sinai's commitment to staying at the forefront of medical innovation and adopting leading-edge surgical techniques that positively enhance patient care and improve outcomes.

The surgery was performed by Victor Chien, MD, who utilized the Symani Surgical System. Chien said the robot enabled him and his team to perform a complex microsurgical procedure with a higher level of precision and control than conventional methods to operate on micro blood vessels thinner than a human hair.

“The surgery demonstrates the microsurgical platform’s remarkable ability in lending greater precision and care when handling tissue in small and diseased vessels,” said Chien, a plastic surgeon in the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai. “By removing the limitations that come with natural tremor in a human hand, the robot helped us execute this procedure in an efficient manner.”

Microsurgery is a highly specialized technique that involves connecting tiny vessels to restore blood flow or redirect fluid during surgical procedures. The microsurgery robot is designed to augment a microsurgeon’s capability to carry out surgery at the micro level by adding precision and control for extremely delicate procedures where surgical options may otherwise be limited. Additionally, Chien noted that robotic assistance greatly enhances 3D visualization and dexterity, enabling skilled microsurgeons to navigate complex areas more easily.

“Enlisting the technology potentially minimizes scarring and tissue damage, and I expect the added precision will ultimately increase operative efficiency,” Chien said.

Besides head and neck reconstruction surgery, the robot can be utilized for other complex procedures, such as breast reconstruction following cancer treatment; lower extremity microsurgical reconstruction, which involves microsurgery to repair tissues in the lower limbs following injury, disease or congenital defects; and lymphovenous bypass procedure for lymphedema, a procedure involving rerouting blocked lymphatic vessels to reduce fluid buildup caused by complications from radiation therapy.

“We are the first program in the Western U.S. to have microsurgical robotic capabilities and to perform a wide variety of successful cases using the device,” said Curtis L. Cetrulo Jr., MD, vice chair of Research in the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery and director of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai. “We are building a robust corps of highly skilled surgeons and fellows trained in robot-assisted microsurgical technique, and we are excited to provide these innovative treatment options to our patients.”

Read more from the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Pioneering Advances in Surgery

This article was originally published on Newswise: Cancer.