title: Endoscopic transaxillary thyroid lobectomy: flexible vs rigid laparoscope.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of the endoscopic procedure for thyroid lobectomy in benign solitary thyroid nodule has been developed rapidly and increasingly refined in recent years. The early results are technically feasible, safe and mainly provide promising cosmetic results, some show a quicker recovery. The authors wanted to know if this procedure can be performed via rigid laparoscope which is simple, less expensive and widely available in many surgical centers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to evaluate operative time, blood loss, complication of flexible compared to 30 degrees rigid laparoscope in endoscopic transaxillary thyroid lobectomy for solitary thyroid nodule.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2004 to June 2004, 13 cases of benign solitary thyroid nodule underwent the endoscopic transaxillary thyroid lobectomy. Flexible laparoscope techniques were performed in 9 cases and 30 degrees rigid laparoscope in the other 4 cases. Port site, number of ports and dissected method were the same in both procedures by the same surgeon. Operative time, blood loss, post-operative results were measured for evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 13 cases, 9 in the flexible laparoscope group and 4 in the rigid laparoscope group. All but one in the flexible group with torn internal jugular vein were successful. The mean operation time was 165.42 +/- 35.06 minutes, which was 175.63 +/- 35.70 minutes for flexible laparoscope group and 145 +/- 26.45 minutes for rigid laparoscope group. There was no recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and no subcutaneous emphysema. The patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of early experience with these 13 patients, the authors believe that endoscopic thyroidectomy using the rigid laparoscope has proved to be no different in the intra-operative results, so the authors do aimed to show that with the rigid laparoscope which is available in many surgical centers, less expensive and easy in maintenance will provide another surgical option for treatment of thyroid nodule, with maximized cosmetic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
authors.forename: Suthep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Udomsawaengsup
authors.forename: Patpong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navicharern
authors.forename: Chadin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tharavej
authors.forename: Suppa-ut
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Pungpapong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*