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Video-assisted thyroidectomy
Rocco Bellantone1, Celestino P Lombardi, Marco P Raffaelli
1Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Objective:
In 1998, we developed a technique for video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT). In this paper, we report on the entire series of patients who underwent VAT and discuss the results obtained.
Methods:
Seventy-three patients were selected for VAT. Eligibility criteria were: thyroid nodules
Results:
Eighty-one VATs were attempted on 73 patients. Forty-five lobectomies, 24 total thyroidectomies and eight completion thyroidectomies were successfully performed. Mean operative time was 82 minutes for lobectomy, 100 minutes for total thyroidectomy and 77 minutes for completion thyroidectomy. The conversion rate was 4.9%. Postoperative complications included two transient recurrent nerve palsies, five transient symptomatic postoperative hypocalcaemias and one wound infection. The cosmetic result was considered excellent by most of the patients.
Conclusion:
VAT is a feasible and and safe procedure that allows for excellent cosmetic results. In selected cases, it can be a valid option for the surgical treatment of thyroid diseases.