A Scoping Review of Pain Management After Transoral Robotic Surgery

ObjectivePain following transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is a driver of adverse outcomes and can lead to readmission and treatment delays. A scoping review was conducted to characterize TORS-related pain and identify key management strategies utilized in the literature.Data SourcesOVID Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, Pubmed, and Embase databases were queried.Review MethodsTwo team members independently screened titles and abstracts and completed full-text reviews. Studies examining TORS for OPSCC with quantitative pain data were included. The study followed the PRISMA guidelines.ResultsA total of 1467 studies were imported for screening and 25 studies were ultimately included. The average study sample size was 89 participants. 68% were conducted in a single-center academic setting. Pain was assessed on varying timelines up to 3 years using 13 different metrics. Pain peaks days-weeks postoperatively and returns to baseline thereafter. Postoperative pain is a significant cause of morbidity and limited data exist about optimal management.ConclusionProspective studies are needed to characterize and address TORS-related pain.