[Minimally invasive open thiroydectomy--our initial experience]

A crescent number of reports concerning the use of minimally invasive approach in thyroid surgery arise in the last years.

This report describes the recently developed technique of minimally invasive open thyroidectomy and represents our initial experience.

Thirty seven patients underwent a minimally invasive open thyroidectomy in the Clinic of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Varna between February the 1th and May the 31th, 2003. Nodular thyroid diseases were the dominant cause. All patients were females. In all cases a preoperative ultrasonography was made to evaluate the volume of each thyroid lobe, as well as the number, size and location of the thyroid nodules.

The length of the skin incision varied from 2 to 3,5 cm. Operative time was at 45,4 +/- 10,3 min. Postoperative hospital stay was at 24 +/- 8 hours. There were not any postoperative complications. The extent of thyroid resections was as follows: partial lobe resection in 6 patients; lobectomy in 16 patients; lobectomy and partial counter lateral lobe resection in 4 patients; lobectomy with subtotal thyroidectomy of the other lobe in 2 patients and thyroidectomy in 1 patient. The cosmetic results we have observed were undoubtedly better.

Although initial, our experience shows that minimally invasive open thyroidectomy provides surgeons with an adequate operative field, and that it has proven to be simple, safe, quick and practical for selected patients with small to middle sized thyroid nodules.