title: Long-term sensory disturbance and discomfort after robotic thyroidectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare short-term and long-term sensory disturbance and discomfort after robotic thyroidectomy versus conventional open thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared 118 patients who underwent robotic thyroidectomy by a gasless unilateral axillobreast (GUAB) or axillary (GUA) approach with 176 patients who underwent conventional open thyroidectomy from April 2009 to June 2011. Postoperative hypesthesia/paresthesia and discomfort of the neck and anterior chest were evaluated regularly for 1.5 years using a questionnaire with a scale from 0 to 4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in neck discomfort or hypesthesia/paresthesia between the two groups. Neck discomfort and hypesthesia/paresthesia returned to preoperative levels by postoperative years 1.0 and 1.5, respectively, in both groups. Anterior chest discomfort and paresthesia/hypesthesia were higher in the robotic group than the open group. They returned to preoperative levels by postoperative year 1 in the robotic group and within 3 months in the open group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term sensory disturbance and discomfort of the neck does not differ between robotic thyroidectomy and conventional open thyroidectomy. However, anterior chest discomfort and sensory disturbance are greater and require longer times to recover after robotic thyroidectomy. Minimizing dissection of the anterior chest should be considered to reduce discomfort and sensory disturbance after robotic thyroidectomy by a GUAB/GUA approach.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 133-792, South Korea, songabcd@hanmail.net.
authors: Chang Myeon
authors: CM
authors: Song
authors: Yong Bae
authors: YB
authors: Ji
authors: Hyang Sook
authors: HS
authors: Bang
authors: Chul Won
authors: CW
authors: Park
authors: Hyuck
authors: H
authors: Kim
authors: Kyung
authors: K
authors: Tae
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035441:Thoracic Wall; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors