Preoperative predictors of difficult oropharyngeal exposure for transoral robotic surgery: The Pharyngoscore.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient exposure may require termination of procedure in transoral robotic surgery (TORS). The aim of study was to develop a "Pharyngoscore" to quantify the risk of difficult oropharyngeal exposure (DOE) before TORS. METHODS: Three-hundred six patients undergoing any surgical procedure at one Academic Hospital were prospectively enrolled. Oropharynx was exposed with Feyh-Kastenbauer retractor. Exposure was evaluated by direct and endoscopic visualization of the four oropharyngeal subsites. Preoperative clinical/anthropometric parameters were studied in good oropharyngeal exposure and DOE groups. Logistic regression was performed to explore association between clinical/anthropometric parameters and DOE. Statistically significant parameters at multivariate analysis were incorporated into a nomogram. RESULTS: Sixty-five (21.2%) subjects were characterized by DOE. Variables associated with DOE at univariate analysis were male (p = 0.031), modified Mallampati Class (MMC) >/= III (p < 0.001), smaller interincisor gap (p < 0.001), and larger neck circumference (p = 0.006). MMC, interincisor gap, and neck circumference were significant at multivariate analysis and were presented with a nomogram for creating the Pharyngoscore. CONCLUSIONS: The Pharyngoscore is a promising tool for calculating DOE probability before TORS.