title: Surgical outcomes of robotic thyroid surgery using a double incision gasless transaxillary approach: analysis of 400 cases treated by the same surgeon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes of 400 cases of robotic thyroid surgery using a double incision gasless transaxillary approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 400 patients who underwent a robot-assisted thyroidectomy performed by a single surgeon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients underwent successful operations without conversion to open surgery. Transient hypoparathyroidism was the most common complication (51.7%) and permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in only 2 patients (1.4%). The mean number of retrieved central lymph nodes was 6.5 ± 4.4 for ipsilateral central compartment node dissection and 8.4 ± 5.1 for bilateral central compartment node dissection. The proportion of patients with stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) levels at the time of remnant ablation <10 ng/mL and sTg levels 6 to 12 months after the first ablation <1 ng/mL was 84.9% and 88.3%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic thyroid surgery is technically safe and may be a surgical option for patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Onvox
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Tae-Yon
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Ki-Wook
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Suck Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013954:Thyroglobulin
keywords: da Vinci; gasless transaxillary approach; robotic; robotic thyroid surgery; thyroidectomy