Dr. Tod Huntley

Robotic Surgery

Drs. Tod Huntley and Ed Krowiak with the Center for Ear, Nose Throat and Allergy (CENTA) at St.Vincent Hospital are the first in Indiana and are among a select group of physicians in the United States trained to remove throat cancers using the da Vinci(r) robotic surgical system. The new procedure is for patients with similar throat cancers like academy award winning actor, Michael Douglas.

Dr. Tod Huntley comes on the show to discuss this amazing new procedure for patients with similar throat cancers like academy award winning actor, Michael Douglas.

Tod C. Huntley, MD, is a private practice head and neck surgeon with the Center for Ear Nose Throat & Allergy(CENTA) in Indianapolis.

The primary use for the da Vinci(r) robot in the head and neck surgical field is with TransOral Robotic Surgery (TORS), a novel technique used to remove cancerous and noncancerous tumors of the throat (or pharynx), specifically of the tonsils, tongue base and voice box area. TORS also show promise for select cases of tongue base obstruction with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The da Vinci(r) robotic system is also used for removal of the thyroid gland via an incision in the armpit (axilla), which avoids the need for a neck incision.

Dr. Huntley and his associate Ed Krowiak, MD, were among the first surgeons in the U.S. trained in da Vinci(r) robotic surgery since its FDA approval for throat cancers in late December 2009. They have since built a busy robotic surgical practice in Indianapolis, based at St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital. They are conducting research on outcomes with TORS for pharyngeal cancer and on robotic thyroidectomy.

Dr. Huntley is also one of the country's early adopters of TORS for OSA, as an outgrowth of his research interest in sleep disorders. He is a leading expert in the surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, and has authored or co-authored a number of textbook chapters and journal articles. Dr. Huntley has given more than 100 invited lectures around the U.S. and internationally on the subject.

Melanie Cole, M.S.

9 / 22 / 2010