Robot-assisted resection of lateral neck cysts using a postauricular approach

Objectives: The Da Vinci robotic surgical system was used for head and neck surgery. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and effect of postauricular approach on the resection of lateral neck cysts.Methods: Eleven patients with lateral neck cysts were enrolled in this retrospective study and accepted robot-assisted surgery via a postauricular approach. Data on volume of cervical cysts, length of incision, bleeding volume, mean operating time, and hospitalization time were analyzed. The postoperative esthetic satisfaction of patients was investigated.Results: In this case series, the average length of the incision was 6.67 cm. Bleeding volumes ranged from 10 to 20 mL. Average operation time was 55 min. Four patients developed postauricular numbness after the operation, and all recovered over 3 months. No other serious adverse events occurred after the operation. Postoperative cosmetic outcomes were satisfactory. During the follow-up median period of 38.2 months, there was no evidence of recurrence or long-term complications.Conclusion: Robot-assisted resection for lateral neck cysts via a postauricular approach is feasible and safe and yields excellent cosmetic outcomes.