[Comparative study of endoscopic and open thyroidectomy]

To compare the therapeutic effect between endoscopic thyroidectomy and open thyroidectomy.

One hundred and nine patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group with 52 patients were carried out endoscopic thyroidectomy; and the second group with 57 patients was carried out open thyroidectomy. Clinical features including operation time, operative blood loss, hospitalization and complications were compared between the two groups.

The average operative time was (105.1 +/- 30.2) min in endoscopic group and (145.3 +/- 27.4) min in open group (P<0.01); the mean operative blood loss was (7.5 +/- 4.2) ml in endoscopic group and (48.6 +/- 18.6) ml in open group (P<0.01); the average hospitalization after operation was (4.1 +/- 1.4) days and (8.0 +/- 1.9) days (P<0.01), the complication rate was 5.8% in endoscopic group and 8.8% in open group (P<0.01).

Compared to the traditional open surgery, endoscopic thyroidectomy is safe and effective,with advantages in terms of the aesthetic property,the amount of bleeding and the postoperative complications.