Minimally invasive video-assisted approach for partial and total thyroidectomy: initial experience.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We report our initial experience with partial and total thyroidectomy using a video-assisted approach. The feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of this technique are examined.

METHODS:

Between January and May 2000, 28 patients were select to undergo a thyroid lobectomy (n = 17) or total thyroidectomy (n = 11) by a video-assisted cervical approach. Patient selection was based on clinical examination and preoperative ultrasonography. The surgical procedures were conducted under general anesthesia through a minimal substernal skin incision. Frozen sections were examined peroperatively in all cases.

RESULTS:

The initial diagnosis was solitary nodule in 19 patients and multinodular goiter in 8 patients. One patient was treated for hyperthyroidism. The mean cranio-caudal axis and transverse diameter of the resected specimen were 4.9 +/- 0.9 and 2.7 +/- 0.5 cm, respectively, and the mean total lobar weight was 11.9 +/- 5.5 g. Conversion to conventional surgery was required in three patients (10.7%), due to local bleeding in all cases. The mean operative times were 150 +/- 8.2 and 102.5 +/- 17 min for total and partial thyroidectomy, respectively. The laryngeal nerve was identified in 94.8% of cases. The mean length of skin incision was 25.4 +/- 2 mm. There was one case of postoperative hypocalcemia and one case of postoperative hoarseness. One patient had a transient vocal cord palsy. The postoperative hospital stay was 1 day for 66.7% of patients. The pain intensity evaluation, performed on postoperative day 1 using the visual analogue scale (VAS) method, was 1.9 +/- 1.4.

CONCLUSION:

Video-assisted thyroidectomy is feasible, safe, and effective in selected cases. Benefits for the patients in terms of postoperative pain, hospital stay, and cosmesis still need to be assessed in a prospective trial comparing standard open and video-assisted approaches.

• Authors: M Mourad, N Saab, J Malaise, C Ngongang, B Fournier, C Daumerie, J P Squifflet
• Journal: Surgical endoscopy (Surg Endosc) Vol. 15 Issue 10 Pg. 1108-11 (Oct 2001) ISSN: 1432-2218 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 11727080 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Feasibility Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Length of Stay
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Patient Selection
• Thyroidectomy (methods)
• Video-Assisted Surgery