title: Technical, Oncological, and Functional Safety of Bilateral Axillo-Breast Approach (BABA) Robotic Total Thyroidectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to identify whether bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) robotic total thyroidectomy (RoTT) is technically, oncologically, and functionally safe.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighteen patients underwent BABA robotic thyroidectomy between July 2010 and February 2013. Ninety-one (77.1%) patients underwent RoTT, and 27 (22.9%) underwent robotic unilateral lobectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RoTT (n=91) resulted in lower rate of surgical complication and in higher rate of transient hypocalcemia comparing with robotic unilateral lobectomy (n=27) (35.16% vs. 3.7%; P<0.013), but not in a permanent hypocalcemia, transient, or permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (2.2% vs. 0%; P=1.000, 3.3% vs. 0%; P=1.000, and 0% vs. 0%; P=NS), respectively. Successful remnant ablation rate for the patients with RoTT was 100% on a subsequent 6 months follow-up. No significant differences between 2 groups existed in mean Voice Handicap Index-10 scores during postoperative 6 months (P=0.308).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BABA RoTT might be oncologically safe as well as technically and functionally safe procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Byoung J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Jong K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Do H
authors.initials: do H
authors.lastname: Koo
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000601:surgery; D061214:Patient Safety; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*