Safety of transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy

Editor's Note

The transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach can be safe for select patients, with outcomes similar to those of the open approach, this study finds.

Of 425 patients analyzed, the operative time for the transoral approach was longer than the open approach (100.8 vs 79.4 minutes) but transoral patients had less postoperative pain. Blood loss and complication rates were similar.

The transoral approach requires only conventional laparoscopic instruments and avoids incisional scars.

Question Is the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach safe compared with conventional open thyroidectomy? Findings In this study of patients undergoing thyroidectomy in Bangkok, Thailand, the operative time for transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach was longer than that for open thyroidectomy; however, patients who underwent transoral thyroidectomy had less postoperative pain than did patients who underwent open thyroidectomy.