title: Minimally invasive video-assisted total thyroidectomy: an easy to learn technique for skillful surgeons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimally invasive video-assisted total thyroidectomy (MIVATT) is a treating option for small thyroids that demands skills required for both traditional thyroidectomy and endoscopic surgery. This prospective study aims to define the learning curve for MIVATT for residents, with experience in traditional thyroid and laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 36 MIVATTs for benign disease were evenly divided among 4 residents. We recorded and analyzed: age, sex, pathology, thyroid weight, duration of the operation, ΔCa (postoperative minus preoperative calcemia), ΔWBC (postoperative minus preoperative white blood cell count), vocal motility, operative difficulty, postoperative vocal alteration, postoperative pain, complications, gram of gland excised per minute of the operation, conversion, and hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences were observed in the different learning points, between duration of surgery (p < .001), operative difficulty (p = .022), grams of gland excised per minute of operation (p < .001), and WBC (p = .011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgeons that are experience in both thyroid and endoscopic surgery are subjects to a short learning curve concerning MIVATT.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. papavramidis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Theodossis S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Papavramidis
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Michalopoulos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pliakos
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Triantafillopoulou
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sapalidis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Deligiannidis
authors.forename: Isaak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kesisoglou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ntokmetzioglou
authors.forename: Spiros T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Papavramidis
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000193:education*