title: Are we changing our inclusion criteria for the minimally invasive videoassisted thyroidectomy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The first cases treated with Minimally Invasive videoassisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) were characterized by inclusion and exclusion criteria that are changing with the experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have analyzed the patients treated from july 2005 to december 2010 with MIVAT All these cases were treated in accord with Miccoli's technique with a minicervicotomy of 1.5-2 cm above the sternal notch. We have divided the cases on the surgical period highlighting changing in the inclusion criteria and the adverse events (0-211 cases; 212-300 cases). All the cases treated were followed up at days 7 (ambulatory visit) and days 30-12 months (ambulatory visit or telephone contatct). The patients classified in the II° period were chracterized by the exclusion of the clinical thyroiditis. We have related these cases with the cases treated with conventional thyroidectomy(CT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences in postoperative pain,nerve palsy and hypocalcemia in MIVAT group and CT group. We have registered a postoperative pain at 24 hours lower in MIVAT group. The percentage of transitory nerve palsy in the MIVAT group in the first period was 2,84 % versus 1,12 % in the second period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MIVAT technique is safe and reproducible, with an excellent cosmetic results. In our experience MIVAT remains the better surgical options for the patients that meet the inclusion criteria.These cases are 15% of patients treated with thyroidectomy in our Endocrine surgery Unit.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Rio
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cataldo
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sianesi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D018579:Patient Selection; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery