title: Prospective study of sensation in anterior chest areas before and after a bilateral axillo-breast approach for endoscopic/robotic thyroid surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The bilateral axillo-breast approach for endoscopic/robotic thyroid surgery (BABA) shows good oncologic and surgical outcomes and does not result in neck scars. However, there is concern about potential sensory changes of the skin flaps after BABA, especially of the breast areas. This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate sensory changes in the skin flaps after BABA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 19 women (mean age 36.9 ± 8.7; age range 21-51 years) who underwent BABA were enrolled. Skin flap sensory assessments were performed for each patient preoperatively and again at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test was used to evaluate the cutaneous light-pressure thresholds, a biothesiometer was used to evaluate the vibration thresholds, and an infrared thermometer was used to measure skin temperatures of the skin flaps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were changes in the sensations of the anterior chest areas over time, as determined by the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test (1.5 vs 4.3 versus 1.4; P < 0.05) and the biothesiometer (26.8 vs 31.2 vs 22.3; P < 0.05). The sensations in the anterior chest areas normalized to preoperative levels at 3 months postoperatively. No significant differences were seen in the infrared thermometer test at any of the time points (36.2 vs 36.2 vs 36.3 °C; P = 0.9927).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While anterior chest area sensations were changed at 1 month postoperatively, the sensations normalized at 3 months after BABA. These results suggest that BABA has minimal adverse effects on anterior chest area sensation.
authors: Center for Thyroid Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea. su.jin.kim.md@gmail.com
authors: Su-Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Kyu Eun
authors: KE
authors: Lee
authors: Jun Pyo
authors: JP
authors: Myong
authors: Do Hoon
authors: do H
authors: Koo
authors: Jeonghun
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Yeo-Kyu
authors: YK
authors: Youn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001365:Axilla; D001940:Breast; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012371:Robotics; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013909:Thorax; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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