Minimally invasive, totally gasless video-assisted thyroid lobectomy

BACKGROUND: Neck surgery is one of the newest fields of application of vide o-assisted surgery. We developed a technique for minimally invasive, totall y gasless video-assisted thyroid lobectomy. METHODS: The procedure was accepted by a patient with a follicular nodule o f the left lobe of the thyroid, We performed a left thyroid lobectomy throu gh a single 20-mm horizontal skin incision, just above the sternal notch, a fter inserting a 5-mm 30 degrees laparoscope, by using both endoscopic and conventional instrumentation. RESULTS: The recurrent laryngeal nerve and the parathyroid glands were easi ly identified and preserved. The operating time was 2.5 hours. No complicat ion occurred. The postoperative stay was 2 days. The cosmetic result was ex cellent. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that our technique is feasible and safe. This mak es us optimistic about the future of minimally invasive, video-assisted thy roid surgery. Am J Surg. 1999;177: 342-343. (C) 1999 by Excerpta Medica, In c.