Transoral robotic-assisted thyroidectomy: a preclinical feasibility study in 2 cadavers.
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.
Richmon
Jeremy D
JD
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Pattani
Kavita M
KM
Benhidjeb
Tahar
T
Tufano
Ralph P
RP
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*