TransOral Robotic Surgery (TORS) is a procedure that utilizes the da Vinci® Surgical System for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.  The purpose of this surgery is to reduce the size of the base of the tongue, to minimize obstruction caused by the tongue during sleep.

Patients that undergo this procedure complete the following steps:

• Pre-Surgery Assessment: Patients visit their surgeon's office for an assessment, which includes a review of recent sleep studies. Patients are also evaluated with a scope. This exam allows the doctor to determine the level of tissue obstruction.
• TORS Surgery: Patients undergo the da Vinci® Robot-Assisted procedure in the hospital. Most patients will stay in the hospital for 1-2 days after their surgery.
• Recovery: Full recovery is expected to take about three weeks.
• Follow-Up Sleep Study: About three months after surgery, patients complete a new sleep study to ensure that the procedure was successful.

Like other da Vinci® Robot-Assisted surgeries, the TORS procedure has numerous benefits.  For most patients, the procedure eliminates the need for standard sleep apnea treatments, such as a mouthpiece or breathing device. Other benefits include:

• very few incisions
• less scarring
• shorter recovery time
• less time away from your day-to-day life

TransOral Robotic Surgery is a revolution in sleep medicine, because it is a minimally-invasive approach to treating sleep apnea. The da Vinci® Surgical System gives surgeons unprecedented dexterity, precision, and vision of the surgical field, so they can perform the surgery through a patient's mouth.

In the past, sleep apnea surgery required a large incision in the neck and jaw - and sometimes even the need to break the jaw. This led to long recovery times for patients. TORS eliminates the need for this approach, so you can get back to your life faster and with less pain. 

TransOral Robotic Surgery is designed for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.  Your doctor will discuss all of your options with you and help you determine the best course of treatment.

To learn more or request a consultation, please click the "Request an Appointment" link at left.

Our online Learning Center has up-to-date, evidence-based information about a number of topics related to sleep apnea - including causes, symptoms, diagnostic testing, and treatments.

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You can also visit the Middlesex Health Sleep Disorders Center to learn more about our sleep medicine programs and services.

Visit the Sleep Disorders Center