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Retroauricular endoscopic thyroidectomy: initial single-institution experiences

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Abstract

Conventional thyroidectomy often results in visible scarring postoperatively. Endoscopic thyroidectomy offers the advantage of scarless surgery, especially beneficial for young adult women. The retroauricular approach uses a facelift incision well-known among surgeons and eliminates the need for gas insufflation due to the large working space. An early retrospective analysis was conducted on thirty-one individuals who underwent gasless retroauricular endoscopic thyroidectomy approach, focusing on isthmolobectomies (n = 26) and lobectomies (n = 5), with one case necessitating conversion to open thyroidectomy, from January 2016 to April 2017. Physical examination, laboratory, and histopathology findings were collected. The scar was evaluated using the Vancouver Scale System, while other surgical and oncological outcomes were documented and assessed. The average operative time was 154.2 ± 21.3 min, with an average bleeding volume of 69.2 ± 52.1 mL. The average length of stay was 4.7 ± 2.2 days. All complications occurred were temporary and all subjects remained in good condition throughout the follow-up period. Most subjects (65.6%) were very satisfied with the scar concealed in the retroauricular area. Retroauricular endoscopic thyroidectomy is a safe and feasible remote access technique with excellent postoperative results.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the operating room crew, surgical oncology fellows, surgical residents, and the research unit of the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.

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This research received no specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Surgical Oncology Division, Department of Surgery, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jalan Pangeran Diponegoro No. 71, Kenari, Central Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia

    Erwin Danil Yulian & Sonar Soni Panigoro

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Research Assistant in Surgical Oncology Division, Department of Surgery, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Putri Arum Melati

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  1. Erwin Danil Yulian
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  3. Putri Arum Melati
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Contributions

EDY contributed to the study conception, methodology, and surgical procedure. EDY, SSP, and PAM contributed to data collection, data analysis, drafting of the article, writing-reviewing, and editing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Erwin Danil Yulian.

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All procedures were approved by the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia Ethical Clearance Committee.

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Yulian, E.D., Panigoro, S.S. & Melati, P.A. Retroauricular endoscopic thyroidectomy: initial single-institution experiences. Updates Surg (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-024-01855-x

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