title: Perioperative clinical outcomes after robotic thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma: a multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Robotic thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection is rapidly emerging as an alternative to conventional endoscopic thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma. Robot techniques incorporate the advantages of endoscopic procedures while overcoming some of the problems. We present the largest multi-institution clinical study of robotic thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinomas. The robotic thyroidectomy involved gasless transaxillary approach using the da Vinci surgical robot system.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed a database of 1,043 consecutive patients with low-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma who underwent robotic thyroidectomy between October 2007 and August 2009. Operations were performed by five surgeons at four academic centers. We analyzed perioperative, clinical, and pathological data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study involved 71 men and 972 women, with a mean age of 39 (range, 15-70) years. All operations were performed successfully without any need for conventional open or endoscopic conversion. There were 366 total thyroidectomies and 677 subtotal thyroidectomies with cervical lymph node dissection. The mean overall operation time and console time were 132.4 and 63.9 min, respectively. There were ten (1%) major postoperative morbidities. The mean tumor size was 0.8 (range, 0.1-6.0) cm, and the mean number of retrieved central lymph nodes was 5.1 ± 3.8 (range, 0-26). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.9 (range, 1-8) days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic thyroidectomy using gasless transaxillary method was feasible, safe, and provided good outcomes for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Robotic technology overcame some technical limitations associated with conventional endoscopy.
authors: Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jandee
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Jong Ho
authors: JH
authors: Yun
authors: Kee Hyun
authors: KH
authors: Nam
authors: Un Jong
authors: UJ
authors: Choi
authors: Woong Youn
authors: WY
authors: Chung
authors: Euy-Young
authors: EY
authors: Soh
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012306:Risk; D012371:Robotics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden; D055815:Young Adult