Evaluation of postoperative pain after minimally invasive video-assisted and conventional thyroidectomy: results of a prospective study. ESES Vienna presentation.
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.
Alesina
Pier Francesco
PF
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
Rolfs
Thomas
T
Rühland
Katrin
K
Brunkhorst
Violetta
V
Groeben
Harald
H
Walz
Martin K
MK
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