Minimally invasive endoscopic thyroidectomy by a cervical approach: Early vessel ligation decreases the duration of surgery

Background: The technique of thyroidectomy mandates adequate visualization of the operative field to identify pertinent anatomical structures. The purpose of this prospective review was to assess the feasibility and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy by a cervical approach. Methods: All patients who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy were assessed by retrospective review of a prospective database. Results: Thirty-eight patients underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy by a cervical approach. Thirty-five of 38 cases were successfully completed endoscopically with a mean OR time of 190 min. One patient experienced a permanent recurrent laryngeal palsy. Conclusion: Endoscopic thyroidectomy by a cervical approach is a feasible procedure. As in conventional thyroid surgery, great care should be exercised when dissecting the recurrent laryngeal nerve.