title: A comparison of postoperative pain after conventional open thyroidectomy and single-incision, gasless, endoscopic transaxillary thyroidectomy: a single institute prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare postoperative pain between single-incision, gasless, endoscopic transaxillary thyroidectomy (SET), and conventional open thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March to December 2015, patients with thyroid disease underwent total thyroidectomy or lobectomy. Patient's clinical and pathological characteristics, postoperative pain score using visual analog scale (VAS) were compared between the 2 groups. The primary endpoint was postoperative pain evaluated by VAS score and postoperative analgesic use. Operation time and length of postoperative hospital stay were secondary outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conventional, open cervical surgery was performed on 30 patients (group O) and SET was performed on 27 patients (group E). Pain scores in shoulder area, which is the ipsilateral side of the tumor location at 1 hour and 24 hours after surgery, were higher in group E patients (P < 0.05). Pain scores 7 days after surgery did not differ between the 2 groups according to the locations (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, endocrine surgeons should be concerned about immediate higher postoperative pain scores in patients who undergo SET.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Bong
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Lai
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Heun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Sup
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yun
keywords: Carcinoma; Postoperative pain; Thyroid neoplasms