Transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT): procedures and outcomes

Tireoidectomia endoscópica transoral por acesso vestibular (TOETVA): experiência inicial no Brasil

RESUMO Objetivo: apresentar a experiência inicial no Brasil com a tireoidectomia transoral endoscópica por abordagem vestibular (TOETVA). Métodos: estudo prospectivo de pacientes submetidos à TOETVA no Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital Regional do Oeste, Chapecó, Santa Catarina. Foram candidatos para o estudo os pacientes entre 18 e 65 anos de idade, ASA I e II, com volume glandular de até 35cm3e nódulos de até de 4cm. Dados dos pacientes, dos nódulos, tempo cirúrgico, complicações, e tempo de internação foram registrados. Resultados: nove pacientes foram operados entre maio de 2017 e abril de 2018. Todos eram mulheres, com idades entre 33 e 64 anos. O tamanho do nódulo variou de 1cm a 4cm. Dois pacientes eram portadores de neoplasia maligna e a tireoidectomia total foi feita em oito casos. Sete pacientes tiveram uma internação de apenas um dia. Um paciente sofreu uma complicação menor na pele, mas não ocorreram lesões dos nervos laríngeos recorrentes ou hipoparatireoidismo definitivo. Conclusão: a TOETVA é uma técnica segura para pacientes bem selecionados, com condições favoráveis e com especial preocupação com resultados estéticos.

Anterior cervical incision-sparing thyroidectomy: Comparing retroauricular and transoral approaches

Objectives

The robotic retroauricular approach and transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) have been employed to avoid anterior neck scarring in thyroidectomy with good success. However, outcomes have yet to be compared between techniques. We compare our initial clinical experience with these approaches for thyroid lobectomy at our institution.

Methods

A review of initial consecutive patients who underwent robotic facelift thyroidectomy (RFT) (August 2011–August 2016) at our institution was conducted. This was compared with the same number of initial consecutive patients who underwent TOETVA (September 2016–September 2017) at our institution. Demographics, operative time, pathology, complications, and learning curve were compared between cohorts. Learning curve was defined based on the slope of linear regression models of operative time versus case number.

Results

There were 20 patients in each cohort. There was no statistically significant difference in demographic data between cohorts. One hundred percent of RFT cases versus 95% TOETVA cases (P = .999) were completed without conversion to standard open technique with median operative times of 201 (124–293) minutes versus 188 (89–343) minutes with RFT and TOETVA, respectively (P = .36). There was no incidence of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in either cohort. The slopes of the regression models were 0.29 versus −8.32 (P = .005) for RFT and TOETVA, respectively.

Conclusion

RFT and TOETVA are safe and feasible options for patients motivated to avoid an anterior neck scar. However, the quicker learning curve without the need for a costly robotic system may make TOETVA the preferred technique for institutions wishing to perform anterior cervical incision‐sparing thyroidectomy.

Level of Evidence

4

Learning Curve for Transoral Endoscopic Thyroid Lobectomy

Objective To define the learning curve for transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via the vestibular approach (TOETVA). Study Design Case series with planned data collection. Setting Tertiary care academic hospital. Subjects and Methods Included patients were those who met the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines for lobectomy and our group's previously documented indications for TOETVA. Operative time (incision to closure) was used as a surrogate for procedural proficiency and plotted as a function of case number to determine a learning curve. A simple moving average of operative time was then calculated, with the proficiency case defined as the case number where the slope of this curve changed. Demographic/characteristic data, outcomes, and complications were compared between the skill acquisition period (case 1 to proficiency case) and the proficiency period (remaining cases). A linear regression model was then used to calculate and compare the slopes of the skill acquisition and proficiency periods in the "operative time versus case number" plot. Results Thirty cases were attempted, with a procedural success rate of 29 of 30 (94%) and no incidence of permanent mental nerve or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. The proficiency case was case 11. There was a statistically significant difference between the skill acquisition and proficiency periods in slopes of the linear regressions (-16.7 vs -0.3, respectively; P < .001) and median operative times (191 vs 119 minutes, P < .001). There was no difference in demographics, procedural success rate, or complication rate between the periods. Conclusions The learning curve for TOETVA was 11 cases for the surgeon evaluated in this series.

Robotic Thyroid Surgery: Current Perspectives and Future Considerations

Robotic transaxillary thyroidectomy, pioneered in South Korea, is firmly established throughout the Far East but remains controversial in Western practice. This relates to important population differences (anthropometry and culture) compounded by the smaller mean size of thyroid nodules operated on in South Korea due to a national thyroid cancer screening programme. There is now level 2 evidence (including from Western World centres) to support the safety, feasibility, and equivalence of the robotic approach to its open counterpart in terms of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, hypoparathyroidism, haemorrhage, and oncological outcomes for differentiated thyroid cancer. Moreover, robotic thyroidectomy has been shown to be superior to open surgery for certain patient-reported outcome measures, namely scar cosmesis and pain. Downsides include its high cost, longer operative time, and risk of complications not encountered in open thyroidectomy (brachial plexus neurapraxia). Careful patient selection is paramount as this procedure is not for every patient, surgeon, or hospital. It should only be undertaken by high-volume surgeons operating as part of a multidisciplinary robotic team in specialised centres. Novel robotic approaches utilising the retroauricular and transoral routes for thyroidectomy have recently been described but further studies are required to establish their respective role in modern thyroid surgery.

Early outcomes in transoral vestibular thyroidectomy: Robotic versus endoscopic techniques

BACKGROUND

The transoral thyroidectomy vestibular approach has been utilized via both robotic (TORTVA) and endoscopic (TOETVA) techniques to perform thyroidectomy. However, there have been no studies evaluating outcomes between these approaches. Here we describe our outcomes for thyroid lobectomy with TORTVA and TOETVA.

METHODS

All cases of transoral vestibular approach thyroid lobectomy at Johns Hopkins Hospital were reviewed. Primary outcomes and demographic data were then compared between TORTVA and TOETVA.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven cases were identified, 7 using the robotic approach and 20 using the endoscopic approach. The procedural success rate for the robotic and endoscopic cohorts was 5 of 7 (71%) and 19 of 20 (95%), respectively (P = .15). There were no persistent nerve injuries, mental, or recurrent in either cohort. Median operative time for TOETVA was 188 minutes versus 322 minutes for TORTVA (P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Thyroid lobectomy can be safely performed via both techniques, although performed more quickly endoscopically, which is likely due in part to differences in the learning curves.

[Robotic Surgery - Who is The Boss?]

In the head and neck region, great potential is seen in robot-assisted surgery (RAS). Mainly in cancer surgery, the use of robotic systems seems to be of interest. Until today, two robotic systems (DaVinci® und FLEX®) have gained approval for clinical use in the head and neck region, and multiple other systems are currently in pre-clinical testing. Although, certain groups of patients may benefit from RAS, no unbiased randomized clinical studies are available. Until today, it was not possible to satisfactorily prove any advantage of RAS as compared to standard procedures. The limited clinical benefit and the additional financial burden seem to be the main reasons, why the comprehensive application of RAS has not been realized so far.This review article describes the large variety of clinical applications for RAS in the head and neck region. In addition, the financial and technical challenges, as well as ongoing developments of RAS are highlighted. Special focus is put on risks associated with RAS and current clinical studies. We believe, that RAS will find its way into clinical routine during the next years. Therefore, medical staff will have to increasingly face the technical, scientific and ethical features of RAS.

Postsurgical Outcomes and Surgical Completeness of Robotic Thyroid Surgery: A Single Surgeon's Experience on 700 Cases

BACKGROUND

Advanced technology and understanding of robotic surgical system have rendered robotic thyroid surgery more expanding. The aim of this study was to identify the periodic changes in postsurgical outcomes of robotic thyroid surgery performed by a single surgeon.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of 700 robotic thyroid surgery cases using gasless trans-axillary approach.

RESULTS

All patients underwent successful operations without conversion to open surgery, and were mostly younger than 45 years, female, less-extended thyroid surgery and lymph node dissection, and thyroid cancer. The median follow-up period was 67 months (12-99 months). Regarding technical outcomes, the operation time declined steeply after 100 consecutive cases, and reached 120.0-132.7 minutes for thyroid lobectomy and 162.9-174.1 minutes for total thyroidectomy (TT). The most common complication was transient hypoparathyroidism (43.7%), whose incidence decreased steeply to a range of 9.1% to 25.0% after 300 consecutive cases. Regarding surgical completeness for thyroid cancer, an average of seven lymph nodes was retrieved through central compartment node dissection without fluctuation over time. The proportion of the patients with serum stimulated thyroglobulin levels <10 ng/mL at the time of radioactive iodine remnant ablation after TT and <1 ng/mL 6-12 months after the first remnant ablation ranged between 86.4%-100% and 66.7%-100%, respectively, without significant fluctuation.

CONCLUSION

For properly selected patients, robotic thyroid surgery is useful surgical option with reliable technical outcome and surgical completeness and cosmetic benefit.

Central neck dissection via the transoral approach

There has been a strong impetus for the development of remote access approaches to the central neck. The primary motivation for this has been to alleviate the negative impact that some patients may perceive from a central neck scar. Numerous approaches have been described; however the only approach that provides midline access and equivalent visualization of the bilateral thyroid lobes and paratracheal basins is transoral neck surgery (TONS). TONS has been shown to be safe and effective in performing thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, and central neck dissection (CND) via both the endoscopic and robotic techniques. In contrast with other remote access techniques, it provides the surgeon with familiar views of the bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN) at their insertion site in concert with equivalent access to both paratracheal basins, thus uniquely facilitating safe and comprehensive CND. Though feasible and safe, CND via TONS is not appropriate in all cases. CND via TONS should only be performed with concomitant transoral total thyroidectomy, either prophylactically if the surgeon routinely performs prophylactic CND, or therapeutically if there is newly found evidence of nodal metastasis in the central compartment at the time of surgery. We base these recommendations on both the recent American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) consensus statement for indications for transcervical CND and the baseline indications for TONS.

Indications and contraindications to transoral thyroidectomy

Patient motivation to avoid neck scarring has been a strong impetus in the development of remote access approaches to the thyroid, including transoral robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOR/ETVA). TOR/ETVA continues to become more prevalent given its early success in North America and the demonstration of its safety and efficacy in Asia. As more surgeons perform this procedure, it is important that specific and uniform indications and contraindications exist to prevent surgical complications due to poor patient selection. In this article, we review the existing English literature regarding TOR/ETVA and compile the inclusion and exclusion criteria of individual authors for both robotic and endoscopic techniques to date. We then resolve differences in the existing literature to provide recommended indications and contraindications to TOR/ETVA based on both our review and our own experience with TOR/ETVA to date. The following are our resultant recommended indications for TOR/ETVA: patient history of hypertrophic scarring or motivation to avoid a cervical neck incision with a maximal thyroid diameter ≤ 10 cm and dominant nodule ≤6 cm, with one of the following pathologic criteria; benign lesion, multinodular goiter, indeterminate nodule, or suspicious lesions/well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas ≤ 2 cm. Recommended contraindications to TOR/ETVA are as follows: history of head & neck surgery, history of head, neck, or upper mediastinal irradiation, inability to tolerate general anesthesia, evidence of clinical hyperthyroidism, preoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, lymph node metastasis, extrathyroidal extension including tracheal or esophageal invasion, oral abscesses, substernal thyroidal extension, or failure to meet inclusion criteria as above. Relative contraindications include smoking and other oral pathology, and surgeons should be aware that morbid obesity may make it difficult to raise skin flaps.