The impact of prophylactic external carotid artery ligation on postoperative bleeding after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (OPSCC) has increased at an alarming rate despite a decline in traditional risk factors [1,2]. This trend is attributed to the human papillomavirus (HPV) [3,4]. The prognosis of patients with HPV-associated OPSCC is significantly improved and, as such, consideration of functional outcomes has become increasingly important [5]. One approach for better tailoring therapies and optimizing long-term functional outcomes is primary treatment via transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

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