Current status of robotic thyroidectomy and neck dissection using a gasless transaxillary approach

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Advancements in surgical technology are continually refining cancer treatment approaches.
• Robotic surgery offers potential advantages in precision and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail advancements in robotic thyroidectomy and robotic modified radical neck dissection (MRND) techniques.
• To evaluate the impact of these robotic procedures on thyroid cancer management, considering oncological, functional, and surgical aspects.

Main Methods:

• Review of 23 reports published from 2009 to the present.
• Inclusion of three multicenter trials focusing on gasless transaxillary robotic thyroid surgery.
• Analysis of studies specifically addressing robotic thyroidectomy and robotic MRND.

Main Results:

• Robotic surgery demonstrated oncologic safety and radicality comparable or superior to conventional methods for thyroid carcinomas.
• Clinical benefits for patients include enhanced cosmesis, reduced pain, improved swallowing, and lower morbidity.
• Surgeons experienced a shorter learning curve and reduced musculoskeletal discomfort with robotic procedures.

Conclusions:

• Accumulated evidence supports robotic thyroidectomy and MRND as beneficial for both patients and surgeons.
• Robotic approaches represent a significant advancement in the management of thyroid cancer.