Endoscopic thyroidectomy with 56 cases

Objective To discuss the method,the advantages and disadvantages of endoscopic thyroidectomy.Methods Endoscopic thyroidectomy via areola of breasts approach was performed in 56 patients,including 53 cases of nodular goiter,and 3 cases of thyroid carcinoma.Results The endoscopic thyroidectomy was successfully carried out in 54 cases,including tumor dissection in 12 cases,one lobe partial thyroidectomy in 16 cases,two lobe partial thyroidectomy in 24 cases,and radical thyroidectomy in 2 cases of thyroid carcinoma.The operative time length ranged from 50 to 210 min(mean 88.5min).However,the operations were converted into open surgery in 2 cases.There were no complications such as damage to recurrent laryngeal nerve or parathyroid glands.Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 3 to 7 days(mean 4.2 days).The post-operative following-up for 1 to 13 months indicated that all the patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results and the same curative effects as conventional surgery were obtained.Conclusions Endoscopic thyroidectomy is a safe and effective method of thyroid surgery.Since all the minimal incisions are on concealed parts of the body,the obvious cosmetic effect of this method is guaranteed.