Days alive and out of hospital after treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with primary transoral robotic surgery or radiotherapy - a prospective cohort study

• Published in: Acta oto-laryngologica 2021-02, Vol.141 (2), p.193-196
• Main Authors: Scott, Susanne Irene, Madsen, Anne Kathrine Østergaard, Rubek, Niclas, Kehlet, Henrik, von Buchwald, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: DAOH; Days Alive and Out of Hospital; oropharyngeal cancer; radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma; TORS
• ISSN: 0001-6489; 1651-2251
• DOI: 10.1080/00016489.2020.1836395

With the rising incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer, there is a need to assess the burden of treatment. This study assessed 'days alive and out of hospital' (DAOH) in a cohort of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with either transoral robotic surgery (TORS) or radiotherapy (RT). A prospective cohort study conducted between May 2017-June 2019. Primary outcome was DAOH in the first 30 days after treatment (DAOH 30 ). The secondary outcome was DAOH 180 . Forty-four patients were included, 31 treated with TORS and 13 with RT. Patients treated with TORS had a median DAOH 30 of 25 (IQR 22.8-26) including a required four-day postoperative stay- and a median DAOH 180 of 168 (IQR 163-171.3). In contrast, patients treated with RT had a median DAOH 30 of 30 (IQR 26-30) and a DAOH 180 of 143 days (IQR 135.5-149). DAOH has not been examined in oropharyngeal cancer before. We found, patients overall spent 92.5% of the first 180 days alive and out of hospital. Patients treated with TORS had high DAOH 30 , which remained high in DAOH 180 , while patients treated with RT with reduced DAOH 30 , had reduced DAOH 180 calling for further large-scale studies.