Comparison of surgical outcome between conventional open thyroidectomy and endoscopic thyroidectomy through axillo-breast approach.

Objective: Minimally invasive thyroidectomy can be categorized into either video-assisted method or remote access thyroidectomy (RAT). Although RAT provided excellent cosmetic results, some debate about the advantages and disadvantages remains in different countries. Thus, this study aimed to compare the surgical results between endoscopic thyroid surgery and conventional thyroidectomy.

Materials and methods: The study retrospectively reviewed the conventional and endoscopic thyroidectomy performed at our institution from September 2011 to July 2012. Overall, 30 patients were recruited for this study. The patients were divided into two groups: Group O (open group, n = 15) and Group E (endoscopic group, n = 15). Postoperative outcomes (including wound pain, swallowing disturbance, and chest wall paresthesia) and complications were analyzed and assessed.

Results: The endoscopic group was associated with longer operation time and hospital stay. The visual analog scale (VAS) score of surgical wound pain was significantly higher in the open group in 1-week postoperation. However, the VAS score of swallowing disturbance was significantly higher in the endoscopic group in 1-week postoperation. More than half of the patients (53%) had chest wall paresthesia within 1-month postoperation in the endoscopic group. No surgical complications occurred in both groups.

Conclusion: Although endoscopic thyroidectomy provides excellent cosmetic results in thyroid surgery, higher immediate postoperative pain, and prolonged chest wall paresthesia compared with those in conventional surgery are a concern and warrant careful patient selection.