Study note

Video-assisted and remote access thyroid surgery

THE CONTEXT

Alternative approaches to thyroidectomy offer smaller or remotely placed incisions but have limitations in patient selection and operative demands.

•

Video-assisted techniques permit thyroid surgery through an incision less than 2 cm long and reduce scar length.

•

These procedures require appropriately modified dissectors, experienced operators and advanced haemostatic electrosurgical devices.

•

Suitability is restricted to small-volume disease, excluding many thyroid cases.

•

Remote access routes include axillary, breast and oral approaches. Laparoscopic or robotic techniques provide a magnified operative view.

•

These approaches require extended dissection over the chest wall or neck and are most suitable for small-volume disease.

•

Experienced centres are expanding indications, but significantly increased operative time limits wider application.

NEETx

Learn. Practise. Remember.