Bilateral Axillo-Breast Approach Robotic Thyroidectomy

Abstract

Bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomy (RoT) has good postoperative and excellent cosmetic outcomes. This study aimed to describe the techniques for robotic BABA thyroidectomy in detail (see Videos, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/SLE/A45 and Supplemental Digital Content 2, http://links.lww.com/SLE/A46). Between 2008 and 2010, 704 patients underwent BABA RoT. The mean patient age was 38.9±9.1 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1:8.0. BABA RoT is an oncoplastic thyroid surgery using BABA and da Vinci robot system with low pressure of CO2 gas insufflations. The operation types were as follows: total thyroidectomy with or without neck dissection (n=556, 78.9%), subtotal thyroidectomy (n=67, 9.5%), lobectomy (n=73, 10.4%), and completion thyroidectomy (n=8, 1.1%). BABA RoT yields good postoperative outcomes. With excellent cosmetic outcomes, this technique may be a suitable alternative for patients with thyroid diseases.