Video-assisted neck surgery (VANS) using a gasless lifting procedure for thyroid and parathyroid diseases: "The VANS method from A to Z"

Definition of learning curve for thyroidectomy: systematic review on the different approaches

Background

Thyroidectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out worldwide and it has evolved in recent years with alternative approaches. With the advent of minimally invasive techniques, the learning curve (LC) concept has become a fundamental "dogma".

Methods

A literature search, according to the PRISMA guidelines, was performed via PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Only studies assessing the learning process to thyroidectomy (including hemi- and total thyroidectomy), reporting a minimum of 30 procedures and describing clearly the minimum number of performances required to achieve proficiency and the main evaluation items used to establish it, were included. Conventional, endoscopic and robotic approaches were separately analyzed. Only English-language studies were considered.

Results

Forty-five relevant studies were selected for the analysis [respectively 16 concerning robotic thyroidectomy (RT), 22 endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET), 6 mini-invasive video assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT), 1 conventional thyroidectomy (CT)]. The number of procedures required for a single surgeon to achieve competence and the parameters used to define surgical proficiency were fully investigated for each individual technique.

Conclusions

Our research shows how the current literature lacks an objective definition of the LC concept. The heterogeneity of analysis methodologies and parameters evaluated, the various surgical techniques and training background of single surgeons, make it impossible to draw univocal results. Future studies should consider confounding factors and establish criteria that should be consensually recognized in the assessment of surgical performances and skills.

Lateral approach contributes to shortened surgical time in video-assisted neck surgery (VANS) for thyroid nodule

Background

Despite endoscopic thyroid surgery contributing to excellent cosmetic outcomes, it requires longer surgical time than open surgery. This study evaluates the factors associated with operative time in video-assisted neck surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy by video-assisted neck surgery at a single hospital between 2017 and 2021. The clinical parameters were evaluated: age, sex, body weight, body mass index, coexistence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, side of operation, surgical approach to thyroid (midline approach or lateral approach), operation time, amount of blood loss during surgery, maximum tumor diameter and tumor volume, and postoperative complications. These parameters were compared to investigate the association of operative time and surgical approach.

Results

Seventy consecutive patients were enrolled in this study, the median age at operation was 50 years, and there were 6 (8.6%) men and 64 (91.4%) women. The median body weight and body mass index at operation were 56.6 kg and 21.5, respectively. Coexistence of Hashimoto thyroiditis was found in 17 (24.3%) patients. Significant differences were found between the groups with longer and shorter operation time than median 201 minutes in surgical approaches to the thyroid (P < .001) and the amount of bleeding during surgery (P = .039). There were no differences in other candidates between the groups. Median operation times were 242 minutes in midline approach and 131 minutes in lateral approach (P < .001).

Conclusion

The lateral approach of video-assisted neck surgery to the thyroid can contribute to shortened surgical time in the case of benign thyroid nodules.

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VANS has contributed to excellent cosmetic outcomes for hemithyroidectomy, but significantly extended compared with conventional surgery.

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The lateral approach should be selected to shorten surgical time for hemithyroidectomy in VANS.

Gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via modified areola approach with a simple flap-lifting technique

OBJECTIVE

Studies have shown that carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation during endoscopic thyroidectomy is associated with many risks. Recently, we have designed a simple lifting tool using Kirschner wire. We aimed to use this tool for flap-lifting in modified areola approach endoscopic thyroidectomy and compare it with conventional CO2 insufflation.

METHODS

In a prospective study, patients who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy via modified areola approach were randomly assigned into gasless (n = 20) or CO2 groups (n = 22). Pre-operative variables included age, gender, tumor diameter, and clinical diagnosis. Intra-operative hemodynamic monitoring included mean arterial pressure, heart rate, pulse oximetry, end-tidal carbon dioxide (ET-CO2) and arterial pH. Other intra-operative details included total operative time, operative blood loss, conversion from endoscopic surgery to open surgery, intra-operative events, and endoscope video score. Postoperatively, the hospital stay, drainage volume, and complications were recoded.

RESULTS

Patient characteristics were not different between the two groups. During the operation, ET-CO2 levels were significantly higher in the CO2 group (P < 0.05), whereas arterial pH levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05). The CO2 group had longer operation time and higher endoscope clarity VAS score than gasless group. Hospital stay, drainage volume, and postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy we performed via our Kirschner wire hook was safe, feasible, and yielded good results.

Learning curve for endoscopic thyroidectomy using video-assisted neck surgery: retrospective analysis of a single surgeon's experience of 100 cases

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic thyroidectomy offers excellent cosmetic outcomes, but requires a period of time for surgeons to become proficient. We examined the learning curve for the first 100 cases experienced by a single surgeon using a video-assisted neck surgery (VANS) subclavian approach.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 100 patients (99 women, 1 man; mean age, 36.2 years) with both benign and malignant thyroid diseases treated between 2016 and 2020.

RESULTS

Preoperative diagnosis was papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in 36 cases and other (non-PTC) in 64 cases. All patients underwent lobectomy, with unilateral central node dissection added for patients with PTC. Mean operative time was 125 min for non-PTC cases and 129 min for PTC cases (p = 0.43), with blood loss of 33.8 ml and 7.6 ml, respectively (p = 0.01). Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RNP) was observed in 12 patients (12%) and hemorrhage in 2 patients (2%). Comparing the first 30 cases with the last 70 cases, no significant differences in operative time or blood loss were evident, although tumor size of non-PTC cases was significantly greater among later cases (32.4 mm vs. 39.5 mm, p = 0.039). RNP was significantly decreased in later cases (26.7% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis revealed tumor size as a significant risk factor for increased blood loss, and increased experience correlated significantly with the decrease in RNP.

CONCLUSIONS

In VANS, a certain surgical level was reached after experiencing 30 cases.