Robotic thyroid surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma: lessons learned from 100 consecutive surgeries.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Thyroid cancer is a prevalent endocrine malignancy.
• Traditional open thyroidectomy can result in visible scarring and potential complications.
• Advancements in surgical technology offer potential for improved patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and safety of robotic thyroidectomy.
• To evaluate the da Vinci surgical system for thyroid cancer treatment.
• To compare outcomes with conventional open thyroid surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 100 consecutive patients.
• Robotic thyroidectomy performed using the da Vinci-S system via the bilateral axillo-breast approach.
• Procedures included total thyroidectomy, lobectomy, and neck dissection.

Main Results:

• No conversions to open surgery were required.
• Mean operative time for total thyroidectomy was 287.15 minutes; for lobectomy, 236.27 minutes.
• Transient hypocalcemia occurred in 19 patients, and transient vocal fold palsy in 3; all recovered within 3 months.

Conclusions:

• Robotic thyroid surgery for thyroid malignancy is a safe and effective procedure.
• The da Vinci system facilitates minimally invasive thyroid cancer treatment.
• This approach demonstrates a potential for reduced postoperative complications compared to open surgery.