Endoscopic thyroidectomy via chest-collarbone approach versus conventional open thyroidectomy: a retrospective...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Endoscopic thyroidectomy offers cosmetic advantages over open procedures.
• The chest-collarbone approach provides a shorter anatomical route compared to other endoscopic methods.
• Evaluating the feasibility of the chest-collarbone endoscopic thyroidectomy for thyroid nodules is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic thyroidectomy via the chest-collarbone approach.
• To compare the outcomes of chest-collarbone endoscopic thyroidectomy with open thyroidectomy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 46 patients undergoing endoscopic thyroidectomy (chest-collarbone approach) between January 2022 and December 2022.
• Patients were matched with open thyroidectomy controls based on nodule size and pathology.
• Key outcomes assessed included postoperative bleeding, hoarseness, hospital stay, drainage volume, nerve palsy, and hypoparathyroidism.

Main Results:

• 44 of 46 patients successfully underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy; 2 were converted to open surgery.
• Endoscopic thyroidectomy showed significantly higher postoperative drainage (102.78 mL vs 71.91 mL) and longer hospital stays (8.78 days vs 7.22 days) compared to open surgery (p < 0.001).
• No significant differences were observed in bleeding, hoarseness, or wound infection. Laryngeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism were not reported in either group.

Conclusions:

• Chest-collarbone endoscopic thyroid surgery is an acceptable procedure for thyroid disease.
• This approach yields good cosmetic outcomes for patients.
• Preoperative assessment of nodule size and case nature is vital for optimizing success rates.