For the first time, robots have succesfully operated on a patient with throat cancer at a hospital in Glasgow.

An historically difficult and invasive procedure due to the hard to reach nature of the tumour. But, in a Scottish first, doctors were able to manipulate robotic arms into the patient’s mouth while being able to observe the affected area using 3D magnified images.

Ehanced precision helps reduce side effects and the length of time patients have to stay in hospital.

TORs surgery hops to enable quicker recoveries and fewer complications for people with throat cancers.

It’s a high-tech procedure to remove throat cancers in which a surgeon uses a sophisticated, computer-enhanced system to guide surgical tools and examine cancerous tissues.

Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, said: “Robotic equipment allows for more precise and less invasive surgeries, easing pressure on surgeons with shorter procedures that are less physically demanding – and ultimately improving patient outcomes.”

Compared to more traditional procedures, TransTORS surgery aims to result in a quicker recovery and fewer complications for people with throat cancers. It also means some patients will be able to avoid traditional radiotherapy treatment altogether.

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“Traditionally this type of surgery would normally be accessed by opening up a patients jaw or neck which is more invasive and has recovery issues such as difficulty swallowing, said Jenny Montgomery, consultant in ENT Head and Neck Surgery at QEUH.

She added: “With TORS we’re able avoid going in through that route, and as such patients have better function of their throat afterwards. Carefully selected patients may be able to avoid radiotherapy altogether.

“We hope that TORS will play a crucial role in complementing existing treatments in helping improve patient outcomes within Scotland.”

The patient, Peter Simpson, was awake and talking just hours five hours after his tonsil and part of his tongue were removed.

The 63-year-old was home within 24 hours of the surgery at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in his home city of Glasgow.

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