Conventional thyroidectomy requires a transverse cervical incision and a cuting of myocutanuos flaps to gain access to the thyroid. This approach leaves an undesirable scar on the anterior surface of the neck especially for young patients Endoscopic thyroidectomy is a new minimally invasive technique that permits thyroid excision without the potentially unfavorable comestic results of conventionnal thyroidectomy. From May 2003 to January 2005, the authors have performed 200 cases of endoscopic thyroidectomy at Surgical Department of National Hospital of Endocrinology. The indication for operation included thyroid nodule, multinodules in 1 lobe. The average of nodule size is 2.6cm (1.0-5.6cm). To access the thyroid ,the authors use 2 approaches: breast approach (100 cases) and axillary approach(100 cases)
- There are 122 cases of lobectomy (61 percent), 78 of subtotal lobectomy (39 percent). - The mean operative time was 98.6 minutes (40-180), the mean blood loss was 8.6ml (0-100). - There is no mortality, the life-threaten complication as well as the hypocalcimia and there is not the conversion to open surgery. There is only one patient of the trasient horseneas. Conclusion: Endoscopic thyroidectomy is feasible and safe for resection of thyroid tumor with maximized comestic benefits.