Transareola single-site endoscopic thyroidectomy: clinical study of 28 cases with thyroid nodules

To investigate the feasibility and safety of transareola single-site endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Twenty-eight patients with thyroid nodules were involved in this study. An incision was cut on a single areola, and a laparoendoscope apparatus and an operating apparatus were implanted. The thyroid gland was exposed using the neck suture suspension technique, and the damaged thyroid gland was removed with an ultrasonic scalpel. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative pain score, and cosmetic satisfaction score were calculated.

Unilateral subtotal thyroidectomy was performed in 12 cases, unilateral partial thyroidectomy in 14 cases, and bilateral partial thyroidectomy in 2 cases. For the former 14 cases, the operation time was 145-205 minutes, with a mean duration of 170 minutes; the operation time ranged from 125 to 150 minutes, with a mean of 135 minutes, for the latter 14 cases. The intraoperative bleeding volume was 15-40 mL, with a mean of 25 mL. The total postoperative wound drainage was 80-135 mL, with a mean of 110 mL. The drainage tube was removed 3-4 days after surgery. The visual analog scale score was 1-5 at 24 hours postoperatively, with a mean score of 3.10. Postoperative pathological examination diagnosed thyroid adenoma in 11 cases and nodular goiter in 17 cases.

Transareola single-site endoscopic thyroidectomy is feasible and safe and has the advantages of a covert incision, small subcutaneous separation area, and high cosmetic satisfaction. The operation time shortens with the increasing number of patients undergoing operations.