Robotic thyroid surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma: lessons learned from 100 consecutive surgeries.

Abstract

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of robotic thyroidectomy using the da Vinci surgical system. Between July 2008 and April 2011, the data revealed an initial series of 100 consecutive patients who underwent robotic thyroidectomy with the da Vinci-S surgical system using the bilateral axillo-breast approach for thyroid cancer. Prospectively collected data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 88 cases of total thyroidectomy, 11 cases of lobectomy, and 1 case of total thyroidectomy with modified radical neck dissection. There was no conversion. The mean total operation time was 287.15±45.19 minutes for total thyroidectomy and 236.27±48.98 minutes for lobectomy. Nineteen patients experienced transient hypocalcemia and 3 patients experienced transient vocal fold palsy. All of the patients recovered within 3 months. Robotic thyroid surgery for patients with thyroid malignancy is safe and results in fewer postoperative complications than open thyroid surgery.