Effect of Endoscopic Thyroidectomy via Anterior Chest Wall Approach on Treatment of Benign Thyroid Tumors

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the inflammatory response and acid-baseequilibrium index, as well as other clinical facts of the endoscopicthyroidectomy via the anterior chest wall approach.Methods: 39 patients who received thyroidectomy in our surgicalcenter during September 2007 and January 2008 were included in thisstudy. Twenty of the patients underwent an endoscopic surgery, andthe rest 19 received a conventional surgery. These patients� data werecompared within and between treatment groups with respect to clinicalfacts and inflammatory evaluations. Arterial blood gas data andelectrolyte data were analyzed within the endoscopic group.Results: Endoscopic thyroidectomy group showed shorter operativetime compared to that of conventional thyroidectomy group, althoughthe difference didn�t reach statistical significance. No significantdifference regarding postoperative hospital stay was observed betweentwo groups. Postoperative day 1 shows much higher values of IL-6and TNF than that measured preoperative or postoperative day 3 inboth groups. CRP appeared to be significantly increasedpostoperatively in both groups, although no difference between thetwo groups was found. Although blood cortisol significantly increasedin both groups postoperatively, the data of endoscopic grouppostoperative day 1 was lower than the same day of conventionalgroup. Arterial blood gas analysis showed that both PCO2 and TCO2were statistically different between preoperation and 30 min afterinsufflation. No insufflation complication was observed.Conclusion: Compared with conventional thyroid surgery, endoscopicthyroidectomy via anterior chest wall approach presented with nosignificant difference in respect of both clinical facts and laboratoryoutcomes.