Is robotic hemithyroidectomy comparable to its conventional counterpart?

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Endocrine Surgery

Background:

• Evaluating robotic transaxillary thyroidectomy versus conventional thyroidectomy for patients avoiding cervical incisions.
• Assessing surgical outcomes in a specific patient cohort seeking scarless procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the outcomes of robot transaxillary thyroidectomy with conventional thyroidectomy.
• To determine the safety and efficacy of a scarless thyroid surgery approach.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database.
• Comparison of 110 patients undergoing robotic transaxillary hemithyroidectomy with 110 matched patients undergoing conventional hemithyroidectomy.
• Analysis of operative time, complications, and discharge status.

Main Results:

• Robotic group patients were younger and had longer operative times.
• Postoperative complications were comparable between groups.
• Significantly higher same-day discharge rate in the robotic group (82.3%) versus conventional (34.5%).
• No permanent vocal fold palsy in either group.

Conclusions:

• Robotic hemithyroidectomy is a safe and acceptable surgical option for selected thyroid disease patients.
• Further prospective trials are needed to refine patient selection, techniques, and optimize outcomes.
• The approach offers potential for improved patient satisfaction due to cosmetic benefits.