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Updated: May 27, 2026
04:01
Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: September 15, 2023
Robotic thyroid surgery: our experience with the infraclavicular approach
Benjamin Lallemant1, Guillaume Chambon, Damien Rupp
1Service d'ORL et Chirurgie maxillo-faciale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nîmes, Nîmes, France. Benjamin.lallemant@chu-nimes.fr
Head & Neck
|November 15, 2011
Summary
This study explored a new robotic thyroidectomy approach via the infraclavicular area. While feasible, technical challenges and limited robotic arms make it unsafe for recommendation.
Area of Science:
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Robotic Surgery
- Endocrine Surgery
Background:
- Robot-assisted endoscopic transaxillary thyroidectomy is an emerging surgical technique with limitations.
- The usefulness and validity of transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy remain controversial.
- An alternative robotic technique using a gasless infraclavicular approach was developed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a novel gasless infraclavicular robotic thyroidectomy approach.
- To present initial clinical experience with this alternative technique.
Main Methods:
- Cadaveric dissection was performed to test the approach.
- The technique was applied to a series of 21 patients between October 2009 and July 2010.
Main Results:
- The study included 16 total thyroidectomies and 5 lobectomies.
- Mean operative time was 197 minutes, with postoperative complications in 4 patients.
- Pathologic findings included benign follicular adenoma (19 patients) and early-stage papillary carcinoma (2 patients).
Conclusions:
- The infraclavicular robotic thyroidectomy approach is feasible but not sufficiently safe for recommendation.
- Technical difficulties and the limitation of using only 2 robotic arms hinder the technique's safety and efficacy.
