title: Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy compared with conventional thyroidectomy in a general surgery department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We retrospectively evaluated a series of patients who underwent minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) to define its advantages or disadvantages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2005 and March 2008, 68 patients underwent MIVAT. Sixty-nine patients who underwent conventional thyroidectomy (CT) during the period before the introduction of the MIVAT technique in our department-chosen with the same inclusion criteria used for MIVAT-served as matched controls. The eligibility criteria for both groups was thyroid nodules < or = 35 mm, thyroid volume < 25 ml, no thyroiditis, and no previous surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five MIVAT and 43 CT patients underwent hemithyroidectomy. Twenty-three MIVAT and 26 CT patients underwent total thyroidectomy. No differences were found in terms of complications, operative time, and radicality of the procedure. Patients who underwent MIVAT experienced significantly less pain, better cosmetic results, and shorter hospital stay than patients who underwent conventional surgery
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MIVAT technique, in selected patients, seems to be a valid option for thyroidectomy and even preferable to conventional surgery because of its significant advantages, especially in terms of cosmetic results, postoperative pain, and postoperative recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, Division of Clinical Surgery, Hospital of Cattinara, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy. ch_dobrinja@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dobrinja
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Makovac
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liguori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery