Total video endoscopic thyroidectomy via the anterior chest approach using the cervical region-lifting method

Surgical approaches to thyroid

Thyroidectomy is the most frequent procedure in endocrine surgery. The conventional approach through a collar incision, as described by Kocher in XIX^th century, has become the "gold standard". It is continuously evolving in spite of, many years ago, it showed to be safe and efficient with quality standards difficult to beat. Endoscopic and robotic surgery have developed "new approaches" to thyroid in order to improve the cosmetic results, looking even for invisible scars. We have done a thoughtful review of most of them trying to understand their benefits and drawbacks. Currently none of these "new approaches" have been shown to be better than conventional open thyroidectomy beyond offering a better cosmetic result. Besides, only a small percentage of patients can benefit of them. However, most of these approaches will remain if they treat the diseased thyroid and also improve the quality of life of our patients.

Robotic and Endoscopic Thyroid Surgery: Evolution and Advances

To minimize surgical morbidity and neck scarring, minimally invasive thyroidectomy and robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy via cervical, axillary, anterior chest, breast, postauricular or transoral approaches have been developed over the past 20 years. In this article, we review the evolution of robotic and endoscopic thyroid surgery and recent advances. Among remote access approaches, the gasless transaxillary approach, bilateral axillo-breast approach, postauricular facelift approach, and transoral vestibular approach are in common use today. Each procedure has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, we need to understand these advantages and limitations, and to select the appropriate method for each patient. The most significant advantage of remote access thyroidectomy is its excellent cosmesis. The complication rate is similar in patients undergoing a remote access approach and those undergoing conventional surgery if the former is performed by experienced surgeons. Operative time is significantly longer in remote access thyroidectomy. In conclusion, remote access thyroidectomy is feasible and its outcomes are comparable to those of conventional transcervical thyroidectomy in highly selected patients.

Contemporary surgical techniques

Recent technologic advances have engendered alternative and innovative approaches to thyroid surgery aimed at reducing cosmetic sequelae. Minimally invasive techniques via small anterior cervical incisions hidden in natural skin creases and remote access approaches that eliminate anterior neck incisions entirely have emerged as viable options for patients who regard cosmesis as a priority. The safe application of these techniques to both benign and malignant thyroid disease has been evaluated.

Alternative approaches to the thyroid gland

Advances in surgical technology and patient-driven demands have fueled exploration into methods to improve cosmetic outcomes in thyroid surgery. This exploration has produced 2 fundamentally different pathways for reducing the visible thyroidectomy scar. Minimally invasive anterior cervical approaches use small incisions hidden in natural skin creases and reduce the overall extent of dissection required to remove the thyroid. Remote access approaches remove the incision from the anterior neck completely but require more extensive dissection to access the thyroid compartment.

Comparison between Transareola Singlesite Endoscopic Thyroidectomy and Minimally Invasive Video-assisted Thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVES:

To compare surgical outcomes between transareola single-site endoscopic thyroidectomy (TASSET) and minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT).

Methods:

Patients with thyroid nodules were randomized to TASSET (n = 24) or MIVAT (n = 24). Surgical outcomes and patient-rated cosmetic results, based on numerical (0 [worst], 10 [best]) and verbal (1 [poor], 4 [excellent]) response scales, were compared.

Results:

There were no significant differences between groups for age, sex, indication for operation, estimated blood loss, postoperative pain and length of postoperative stay. TASSET was associated with a significantly longer mean ± SD operative time than MIVAT (156.84 ± 41.42 vs. 66.38 ± 17.58 min), and significantly improved cosmetic results according to the numerical (9.63 ± 0.60 vs 7.90 ± 1.38) and verbal response (3.8 ± 0.5 vs 3.1 ± 0.7) scales. Postoperative complaints were comparable between the two approaches, although MIVAT involved a shorter operation time.

Conclusions:

Patients treated with TASSET had superior cosmetic results compared with those treated with MIVAT.

Trans-areola single-site endoscopic thyroidectomy: pilot study of 35 cases

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic thyroidectomy via thoracic/breast approach is an acceptable and successful technique in Asia. This technique has the advantage of better cosmesis compared with open or even video-assisted thyroidectomy. Unfortunately, because of the need for three separate ports, conventional endoscopic thyroidectomy usually involves significantly more tissue dissection, and thus more injury to patients, limiting the popularity of this technique. We herein present 35 cases of trans-areola single-site endoscopic thyroidectomy (TASSET), which was first performed in 2009.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients who underwent TASSET for thyroid nodules from September 2009 to March 2011 were evaluated. The surgical outcomes of the surgery were retrospectively analyzed, including conversion, operative time, estimated blood loss, complications, length of stay, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

Thirty-one of the 35 patients (88.5%) underwent successful TASSET, with subtotal lobectomy being the most common procedure. Median operative time for the surgery was 153.65 min (range 100-190 min). Estimated blood loss ranged from 20 to 40 mL. Length of postoperative stay ranged from 2 to 4 days (average 2.5 days). Visual analog scale scores were 0 to 4 without administration of analgesics. The complication rate was low (8.6%) and included one case of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy, one case of subcutaneous seroma, and one case of tracheal injury. All patients were satisfied with the cosmetic outcome after mean follow-up of 8 months.

CONCLUSIONS

TASSET is feasible and safe, with great cosmetic benefits and less injury than other procedures. It may become an alternative procedure for treatment of patients with benign thyroid tumors, especially those with strong desire for cervical cosmesis.

The endoscopic approach to the neck: a review of the literature, and overview of the various techniques

BACKGROUND

The endoscopic surgical approach to the neck has reached the head and neck surgeons' view with a certain delay, compared to other fields of endoscopic procedures. This may be attributed to the tight work space and plenty of vital structures in the operating field. Since study groups described first attempts with endoscopic or video assisted removals of thyroid glands in the late nineties, selective neck dissections on animal models or cadaveric dissections were performed in 2003.

METHOD

The review consists of a Medline Search regarding the terms of endoscopic, video- assisted neck dissections, excision of neck lesions, thyroidectomy and submandibular resection and minimal access surgery. The three main procedures (selective neck dissection, submandibular resection and thyroidectomy) are described and reviewed in the following test.

RESULTS

Various techniques have been performed successfully and led to good clinical results. The studies described in literature other than for thyroidectomy often do not exceed the level of small series or case-reports.

CONCLUSION

With a good proof of indication gasless lifting techniques, video assisted endoscopical techniques and subcutaneous approaches with gas filling procedures are feasible in neck surgery. All methods depending on the surgeons' experience describe no significantly extended operation times, a better and faster wound-healing and an optimized cosmetic outcome, compared to open approaches. Surgeons should always be aware of the limitations of the minimal invasive techniques regarding the complications or modifications during neck dissection/thyroidectomy.

The current status of endoscopic thyroidectomy in Korea

We investigate the current status of endoscopic thyroidectomy in Korea. A representative questionnaire was sent to 21 members of the Korean Association of Endocrine Surgeons who were thought to be performing endoscopic thyroidectomy. All the reply letters were collected and analyzed. The response rate was 95%. A total of 1616 cases of endoscopic thyroidectomy were performed from the year 1998 to the year 2005. The patients included 71 men and 1545 women, with a mean age of 36.17 years. The mean operation time was 124.18 minutes and overall length of hospital stay was 4.31 days. Thyroid lobectomy and nodular hyperplasia were the most common procedures and prominent pathologic findings. Axillary approach was the most popular operative approach method. Gas insufflation and skin-lifting gasless method were used in 800 cases and 816 cases, respectively. Postoperative complication rate was 14.2%. Skin paresthesia was the most common complication. Conversion rate to conventional thyroidectomy was 2.2%. Korean experiences show that endoscopic thyroidectomy is a technically safe and feasible procedure. It is considered to be an important surgical tool that can be further progressed and that also has an excellent potential in a management of thyroid neoplasm.

Gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach: experience of 30 cases

Surgery for thyroid disease requires skin incisions that can result in postsurgical problems such as prominent scars, adhesions, hypesthesia, and paresthesia in the neck. To overcome these problems we performed gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach. Between May 2004 and April 2005, 30 patients underwent gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach. The mean operating time was 126.8+/-32.4 minutes, and the mean length of hospital stay was 4.3+/-1.1 days. No cases required conversion to open surgery and none involved significant intraoperative complications. Three patients (10.0%) complained of slight hypesthesia or paresthesia in the anterior chest wall, and only 2 patients (6.7%) complained of discomfort while swallowing 4 months after surgery. All patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. Gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach is feasible and safe and provides excellent cosmetic results with a minimal degree of postoperative complaints.

The minimally invasive open video-assisted approach in surgical thyroid diseases

BACKGROUND

The targets of minimally invasive surgery (MIVA) could be summarised by: achievement of the same results as those obtained with traditional surgery, less trauma, better post-operative course, early discharge from hospital and improved cosmetic results. The minimally invasive techniques in thyroid surgery can be described as either endoscopic "pure" approach (completely closed approach with or without CO2 insufflation), or "open approach" with central neck mini-incision or "open video-assisted approach". Traditionally, open thyroidectomy requires a 6 to 8 cm, or bigger, transverse wound on the lower neck. The minimally invasive approach wound is much shorter (1.5 cm for small nodules, up to 2-3 cm for the largest ones, in respect of the exclusion criteria) upon the suprasternal notch. Patients also experience much less pain after MIVA surgery than after conventional thyroidectomy. This is due to less dissection and destruction of tissues. Pathologies treated are mainly nodular goiter; the only kind of thyroid cancer which may be approached with endoscopic surgery is a small differentiated carcinoma without lymph node involvement. The patients were considered eligible for MIVA hemithyroidectomy and thyroidectomy on the basis of some criteria, such as gland volume and the kind of disease. In our experience we have chosen the minimally invasive open video-assisted approach of Miccoli et al. (2002). The aim of this work was to verify the suitability of the technique and the applicability in clinical practice.

METHODS

A completely gasless procedure was carried out through a 15-30 mm central incision about 20 mm above the sternal notch. Dissection was mainly performed under endoscopic vision using conventional endoscopic instruments. The video aided group included 11 patients. All patients were women with a average age of 54.

RESULTS

We performed thyroidectomy in 8 cases and hemithyroidectomy in 3 cases. The operative average time has been 170 minutes.

CONCLUSION

Nowadays this minimally invasive surgery, in selected patients, clearly demonstrates excellent results regarding patient cure rate and comfort, with shorter hospital stay, reduced postoperative pain and most attractive cosmetic results.

Radiological and surgical management of thyroid neoplasms

Recent advances in the radiological diagnosis in thyroid neoplasms have been achieved by high-resolution ultrasonography and color-Doppler, and the ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy have been developed on the basis of these modalities. Ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy have made minimally invasive thyroid surgery possible. The surgical procedures are classified into three main categories according to the approach, and each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. Surgeons have to select the most suitable approach from one of these categories of approaches for each patient with a thyroid neoplasm.

Total Video Endoscopic Thyroidectomy by an Axillary Approach

BACKGROUND

A permanent transverse surgical scar is an unavoidable problem after conventional thyroidectomy. Endoscopic thyroidectomy performed via an axillary approach leaves no scarring at the neck and anterior chest wall and so provides an excellent cosmetic result. The axillary scars are usually not seen when the arm is in a normal position.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From April 2001 to February 2003, we used a four-port technique to perform 45 lobectomy and isthmectomy procedures. One 12-mm port for the flexible laparoscope (EL2-TF410, Fuji Photo Optical, Tokyo, Japan) and three additional 5-mm ports for instruments and suction were inserted through the axilla on the side of the nodule. The CO(2 )insufflation pressure was set at 4 mm Hg, and in most cases, a 5-mm Johnson & Johnson Harmonic Scalpel (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.) was used for the dissection.

RESULTS

Of 45 procedures, 44 were performed successfully. In one case, conversion to a conventional technique was required. The mean operating time was 131.2 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 51.6 mL. The recurrent laryngeal nerves were clearly identified in every case, and no case of permanent voice change occurred after surgery. In one patient, a 20-mL seroma developed on the 10th postoperative day, which was treated by simple aspiration. One patient experienced a transient voice change. The patients were discharged on average at 2.9 days after the operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic thyroidectomy by an axillary approach to manage benign thyroid disease is feasible and safe and provides promising cosmetic results. We think that this approach may play an important role in the near future.