title: Evaluation of postoperative pain after minimally invasive video-assisted and conventional thyroidectomy: results of a prospective study. ESES Vienna presentation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the advocated benefits of minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) is reduction of postoperative pain. We compared in a prospective study pain after video-assisted and conventional thyroidectomy (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred sixty-nine patients (56 men, 113 women, mean age: 50 ± 14 years) operated between November 2007 and February 2008 were included. MIVAT was performed if thyroid volume was <30 ml or the nodule diameter < 35 mm. Postoperative pain scores were documented on a visual analog scale (VAS; 0 = no and 100 = unbearable pain) at 8, 24, 36, and 48 h after surgery. Additionally, postoperative analgesic consumption was registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five patients (17 men, 58 women, mean age: 45 ± 15 years) underwent MIVAT and 94 (39 men, 55 women, mean age: 54 ± 15 years) CT. The mean overall VAS score at 8, 24, 36 and 48 h did not significantly differ between the groups (26 ± 21 vs. 26 ± 19 at 8 h, 17 ± 15 vs. 21 ± 18 at 24 h, 11 ± 13 vs. 10 ± 11 at 36 h and 7 ± 12 vs. 6 ± 8 at 48 h in MIVAT and CT group, respectively) [p = ns]. Twelve vs. 13 patients (16% vs. 14%) required opioid administration on the day of the operation [p = ns].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The length of the skin incision seems not to influence the perception of pain after thyroid surgery.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Chirurgie und Zentrum für Minimal Invasive Chirurgie, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Universität Duisburg-Essen, Henricistrasse 92, 45136 Essen, Germany. pieroalesina@libero.it
authors.forename: Pier Francesco
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Alesina
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rolfs
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rühland
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brunkhorst
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Groeben
authors.forename: Martin K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Walz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery