Video-assisted subtotal or near-total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease.
BACKGROUND
Surgery remains the treatment of choice for patients with Graves' disease. The purpose of the present study was to assess the usefulness and efficacy of video-assisted subtotal or near-total thyroidectomy in patients with Graves' disease.


METHODS
Between March 2000 and December 2004, 63 patients with Graves' disease underwent video-assisted subtotal, near-total or total thyroidectomy. Fifty-three patients (84 per cent) were considered for surgery after failure of antithyroid drug and radioiodine therapy, whereas the other ten patients were initially selected for surgical treatment based on their own preference. Treatment outcome was evaluated, including surgical complications, thyroid function, quality of life and patient satisfaction with the surgical result.


RESULTS
All patients were operated on using a video-assisted technique, with some modifications depending on time and experience. There were no conversions to open surgery. Three patients (5 per cent) had temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy that recovered spontaneously. Most patients were satisfied with the surgical results, particularly regarding the placement of the surgical scars.


CONCLUSIONS
Video-assisted subtotal or near-total thyroidectomy is a safe and effective procedure for treatment of Graves' disease.
Maeda
S
S
Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan. maedas@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Uga
T
T
Hayashida
N
N
Ishigaki
K
K
Furui
J
J
Kanematsu
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000379:methods*
D013974:Thyroxine