title: Transoral robotic-assisted thyroidectomy: a preclinical feasibility study in 2 cadavers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Technological advances in thyroid surgery have included various "minimally invasive" thyroidectomy techniques, both open and endoscopic. These include not only minimally invasive video-associated approaches but also variations of the transaxillary approach. More recently, a transoral technique using video assistance has been reported for thyroidectomy. Use of the robot was also recently published in a transaxillary approach to the thyroid. We hypothesized that the robot in combination with the previously described transoral technique would facilitate this novel surgical approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2 human cadavers the da Vinci robot was used to perform a transoral thyroidectomy. The dissection was performed with successful removal of the thyroid gland through the floor of the mouth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total thyroidectomy was performed in 2 cadavers using the da Vinci robot transoral technique. The recurrent laryngeal nerve was preserved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transoral robotic-assisted thyroidectomy (TRAT) provides an attractive approach to the central compartment for thyroidectomy in a field of "minimally invasive" and "scarless" techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Richmon
authors.forename: Kavita M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pattani
authors.forename: Tahar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Benhidjeb
authors.forename: Ralph P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Tufano
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009055:Mouth; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*