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.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mourad, M., Saab, N., Malaise, J. et al. Minimally invasive video-assisted approach for partial and total thyroidectomy. Surg Endosc 15, 1108–1111 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004640090018
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004640090018