title: Remote access thyroid surgery.
abstract: Robot assisted thyroid surgery has been the latest advance in the evolution of thyroid surgery after endoscopy assisted procedures. The advantage of a superior field vision and technical advancements of robotic technology have permitted novel remote access (trans-axillary and retro-auricular) surgical approaches. Interestingly, several remote access surgical ports using robot surgical system and endoscopic technique have been customized to avoid the social stigma of a visible scar. Current literature has displayed their various advantages in terms of post-operative outcomes; however, the associated financial burden and also additional training and expertise necessary hinder its widespread adoption into endocrine surgery practices. These approaches offer excellent cosmesis, with a shorter learning curve and reduce discomfort to surgeons operating ergonomically through a robotic console. This review aims to provide details of various remote access techniques that are being offered for thyroid resection. Though these have been reported to be safe and feasible approaches for thyroid surgery, further evaluation for their efficacy still remains.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA ; 2 Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Parisha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA ; 2 Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Hossam Eldin
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA ; 2 Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Abida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA ; 2 Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kandil
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA ; 2 Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Rohan R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Walvekar
keywords: Robotic-assisted; face-lift thyroidectomy; remote access; retro-auricular; thyroidectomy; trans-axillary