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- Title
Retro-auricular video-assisted 'gasless' thyroidectomy: feasibility study in human cadavers.
- Authors
Walvekar, Rohan R.; Wallace, Eric; Bergeron, Beau; Whitworth, Richard; David Beahm, D.; Nuss, Daniel W.
- Abstract
Background: In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in developing alternative surgical approaches to the thyroid gland with a focus on cosmesis. Approaches can be either complete endoscopic approaches using CO insufflation or endoscopy-assisted approaches. We describe a novel approach for thyroidectomy via a retro-auricular incision without gas insufflation using endoscopic assistance. Methods: Six fresh human cadavers were utilized. Four head and neck specimens were used to assess the retro-auricular approach and the creation of surgical space in the lower neck. Three hemithyroidectomy in two fresh human cadavers procedures were performed via a retro-auricular approach. The end-point of the study was successful removal of the hemithyroid gland with preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Results: In all cases, the retro-auricular flap and subplatysmal plane could be achieved without difficulty. Three hemithyroid specimens were successfully removed in two cadaveric specimens using the retro-auricular approach with endoscopic guidance. Thyroid gland resection with identification and preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve could be achieved in all three procedures (100%). Conclusion: The retro-auricular approach or the 'Walvekar approach' permits adequate working space and an excellent endoscopic surgical view for removal of the ipsilateral hemithyroid gland with an option for a bilateral approach using a 'gasless technique.'
- Subjects
THYROID gland; THYROIDECTOMY; DEAD; CARBON monoxide; INSUFFLATION; LARYNGEAL nerves
- Publication
Surgical Endoscopy & Other Interventional Techniques, 2010, Vol 24, Issue 11, p2895
- ISSN
1866-6817
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00464-010-1068-0