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Minimally invasive video-assisted approach for partial and total thyroidectomy: initial experience
1Department of Endocrine Surgery, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate, 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Surgical Endoscopy
|December 1, 2001
Summary
Video-assisted thyroidectomy is a feasible and safe surgical approach for selected patients, offering potential benefits in recovery. Further trials are needed to compare its outcomes against traditional open surgery.
Area of Science:
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Endocrine Surgery
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT) is an emerging technique for thyroid gland procedures.
- Assessing the feasibility, safety, and benefits of VAT is crucial for its clinical adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the initial experience with partial and total thyroidectomy using a video-assisted cervical approach.
- To examine the feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of this minimally invasive technique.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-eight patients underwent either thyroid lobectomy (n=17) or total thyroidectomy (n=11) via a video-assisted cervical approach.
- Procedures were performed under general anesthesia with a minimal substernal incision; intraoperative frozen sections were utilized.
Main Results:
- Conversion to open surgery was required in 10.7% of cases due to bleeding.
- The mean skin incision length was 25.4 mm, with a 1-day postoperative hospital stay for 66.7% of patients.
- Postoperative outcomes included one case each of hypocalcemia, hoarseness, and transient vocal cord palsy; mean pain score (VAS) was 1.9.
Conclusions:
- Video-assisted thyroidectomy demonstrates feasibility, safety, and effectiveness in select patients.
- Prospective trials are necessary to compare the benefits of VAT against standard open thyroidectomy regarding pain, hospital stay, and cosmesis.