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Prospective Study of Sensation in Anterior Chest Areas Before and After a Bilateral Axillo-breast Approach for Endoscopic/Robotic Thyroid Surgery

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Abstract

Background

The bilateral axillo-breast approach for endoscopic/robotic thyroid surgery (BABA) shows good oncologic and surgical outcomes and does not result in neck scars. However, there is concern about potential sensory changes of the skin flaps after BABA, especially of the breast areas. This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate sensory changes in the skin flaps after BABA.

Patients and Methods

A total of 19 women (mean age 36.9 ± 8.7; age range 21–51 years) who underwent BABA were enrolled. Skin flap sensory assessments were performed for each patient preoperatively and again at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test was used to evaluate the cutaneous light-pressure thresholds, a biothesiometer was used to evaluate the vibration thresholds, and an infrared thermometer was used to measure skin temperatures of the skin flaps.

Results

There were changes in the sensations of the anterior chest areas over time, as determined by the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test (1.5 vs 4.3 versus 1.4; P < 0.05) and the biothesiometer (26.8 vs 31.2 vs 22.3; P < 0.05). The sensations in the anterior chest areas normalized to preoperative levels at 3 months postoperatively. No significant differences were seen in the infrared thermometer test at any of the time points (36.2 vs 36.2 vs 36.3 °C; P = 0.9927).

Conclusions

While anterior chest area sensations were changed at 1 month postoperatively, the sensations normalized at 3 months after BABA. These results suggest that BABA has minimal adverse effects on anterior chest area sensation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Jeong-Taek Woo, Professor at Kyung Hee University, for providing us with a biothesiometer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Thyroid Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea

    Su-jin Kim

  2. Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Kyu Eun Lee & Yeo-Kyu Youn

  3. Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea

    Kyu Eun Lee & Yeo-Kyu Youn

  4. Division of Surgery, Thyroid Center, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Kyu Eun Lee & Yeo-Kyu Youn

  5. Department of Preventive Medicine, Catholic Industrial Medical Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Jun Pyo Myong

  6. Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Do Hoon Koo

  7. Department of Surgery, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, Republic of Korea

    Jeonghun Lee

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  1. Su-jin Kim
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  2. Kyu Eun Lee
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Correspondence to Kyu Eun Lee.

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Kim, Sj., Lee, K.E., Myong, J.P. et al. Prospective Study of Sensation in Anterior Chest Areas Before and After a Bilateral Axillo-breast Approach for Endoscopic/Robotic Thyroid Surgery. World J Surg 37, 1147–1153 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-013-1934-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-013-1934-8

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