Classifying pain in transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy.

PURPOSES: Knowledge of visual analog scale (VAS) pain assessment for transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) is limited. The purpose of this analysis was to classify the postoperative discomfort scores in patients undergoing TOETVA compared to open thyroidectomy. METHODS: Observational clinical study of patients who underwent thyroidectomy by VAS pain assessment from September 2016 to March 2017. Patients were stratified into two groups: patients eligible for TOETVA (Group TOETVA) and non-candidates for endoscopic intervention (open thyroidectomy approach-OTA). VAS was recorded in the recovery room, at 24 h, + 2, + 5, + 15, + 30, + 90 days, and 6 months after surgery. Pain assessment was stratified in VAS-lower lip, VAS-chin, VAS-jaw, VAS-anterior neck, VAS-cervical/back, VAS-swallowing, VAS-brushing, VAS-speaking, and VAS-shaving. Secondary outcome assessed were analgesic rescue dose, morbidity, operative notes, hospital stay, and histopathology. RESULTS: 41 TOETVA and 45 OTA constituted the analysis. There were differences between the TOETVA and OTA for age, gland volume, mean nodule diameter, coexistence thyroiditis, bilateral procedures, and use of drain. Operative time was longer in TOETVA. Results indicated that TOETVA was associated with reduced neck, cervical back, and swallowing VAS scores in the 24 h after surgery. Conversely, jaw and brushing teeth resulted in higher VAS score in TOETVA group. OTA patients never experienced lower lip or chin pain. The use of rescue analgesics did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: VAS was used to measure treatment outcome in TOETVA. VAS scores achieved overall a minimal clinical importance difference from the two procedures. There appears to be both a short- and long-term different range of interpretations of pain between TOETVA and OTA.

Transoral thyroidectomy: advantages and limitations.

In this opinion paper of the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, leading experts in the field report on their current clinical experience with a novel approach for thyroid gland surgery, namely, "transoral thyroidectomy" (TOT). This feasible and novel surgical procedure does not require visible incisions and is, therefore, a truly scarless surgery. Patients meeting the following criteria can be considered as candidates for TOT: (a) an ultrasonographically (US) estimated thyroid diameter ≤10 cm; (b) US-estimated gland volume ≤45 mL; (c) nodule size ≤50 mm; (d) presence of a benign tumor such as a thyroid cyst or a single- or multi-nodular goiter; (e) Bethesda 3 and/or 4 category and (f) papillary microcarcinoma without the evidence of metastasis. The procedure is conducted via a three-port technique at the oral vestibule using a 10-mm port for the 30° endoscope and two additional 5-mm ports for the dissecting and coagulating instruments. TOT is performed using conventional endoscopic instruments and is probably the best scarless approach to the thyroid because of the short distance between the thyroid and the incisions placed intra-orally that do not result in any cutaneous scar and upon following the surgical planes. Experts in TOT organized a working group of general, endocrine, head and neck ENT surgeons and endocrinologist to develop the standards for practicing this emerging technique.

Breast cancer and thyroid diseases: analysis of 867 consecutive cases.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of breast cancer with thyroid diseases. Many authors have already studied the possible relationship between these two diseases, but the results are nowadays conflicting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study examining 867 patients with breast cancer (862 women and 5 men, average age = 61 years old) of whom 141 also had thyroid disease evaluated the recurrence of thyroid diseases and their association with different types of breast cancer. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software for Windows; we used nonparametric tests (Chi-square and Mann-Whitney), and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: We found a significant association between breast cancer diagnosed after menopause and thyroid disease (p < 0.003). Moreover, we analyzed the role of thyroid autoimmunity identifying an association between chronic autoimmune thyroiditis and breast cancer diagnosed before menopause (p < 0.05). Regarding receptor profile of breast carcinoma, we have found an increased expression of estrogen receptors in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis compared to patients with any other thyroid diseases (p < 0.03). Contrariwise, we do not have found any difference between the group with every thyroid disease and the group without thyroid disease (p < 1.00). We did not find other statistically significant associations with breast cancer's parameters like family history, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, cancer clinical and pathological stage, differentiation grade and expression of Ki67, p53 and Her2 in the two main groups with or without thyroid disease. Likewise, we did not found other statistically significant association between hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and breast cancer.

Trans oral endoscopic thyroidectomy (TOETVA): First French experience in 90 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroidectomy techniques using extracervical approaches have grown in popularity for about 20 years and their feasibility has now been demonstrated. We wanted to evaluate one of these new approaches: the anterior vestibular endoscopic approach (TOETVA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of an initial series patients who underwent an anterior trans-vestibular endoscopic oral thyroidectomy. METHODS: From February 2018 to September 2020, this technique was offered to patients aged 18 to 70, ASA I or II, who presented with an indication for thyroid surgery and who wished to avoid cervical scars. The approach was through the anterior vestibule of the mouth and the specimen was extracted either transorally or via the axilla depending on its size. Apart from the first ten cases, all patients underwent recurrent nerve neuromonitoring. The patients were operated on by two surgeons experienced in thyroid surgery. All the patients had follow-up visits on D15, D30 and at 2 months. The pre- and intra-operative data, length of stay and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 90 consecutive patients (87 women) aged 46±12.4 years (18 to 69) with a mean BMI of 24.4±4 were included. The indications for surgery included 11 papillary cancers, 5 oncocytic nodules, 15 toxic nodules, 13 cases of Graves disease and 46 symptomatic goiters and/or nodules. The mean pre-operative diameter of the nodules was 3.61±1.99 (0.44 to 7.3) cm. The interventions performed were 44 lobo-isthmectomies, 41 total thyroidectomies and 5 isthmectomies. The mean operating time was 134±45min (40 to 255). On D1, the post-operative ionized calcium was 1.09±0.11mmol/L (4.3685±0.44mg/dL) (normal 0.8-1.15mmol/L) (3.206-4.609mg/dL)) and the total serum calcium was 2.07±0.11mmol/L 8.296±0.44mg/dL (normal 2.2-2.5mmol/L) (8.817-10.019mg/dL). Five patients underwent conversion from endoscopic to open cervical approach (5.5%). The complications were seven cases of transient recurrent nerve palsy (7.8%), eight cases of hypoparathyroidism (19%) including six transient and two permanent, one skin burn and 26 cases of transient chin numbness related to the electrocautery (29%). Ten patients (11%) presented with transient post-operative skin ecchymosis that resolved within 7-10 days. A spontaneous pneumo-mediastinum was observed on chest CT in three patients and evolved favorably. No hematoma, or surgical site infection, or complications related to axillary extraction were observed. All the patients declared themselves satisfied post-operatively and at the end of the follow-up. CONCLUSION: The TOETVA route of entry is a safe and reliable technique in well-selected patients wishing to avoid a cervical scar.

[Transoral thyroid and parathyroid surgery : Implementation and evaluation of the transoral endoscopic technique via the vestibular approach (TOETVA)]. / Transorale Chirurgie der Schilddrüse und Nebenschilddrüsen : Implementierung und Evaluation der transoralen endoskopischen Technik über den Vestibularzugang (TOETVA).

BACKGROUND: More than 10 years ago various research groups in Germany first reported the possibility of transoral surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. These were developed and evaluated within the framework of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). While development of these innovative and new techniques that enabled surgery without visible scars did not become well accepted in Europe and America, it led to an optimized transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA), which was implemented particularly in Asia. We report the preparation, step-by-step implementation, and first promising results for TOETVA of an international surgical cooperation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Thai-Austrian-German cooperation was started in June 2017. Between June and November 2017 the first 10 TOETVA procedures were performed in female and male patient(s) presenting with single thyroid nodules, sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism and solitary parathyroid adenoma or thyroglossal duct cysts. The TOETVA technique was performed using 3 laparoscopic ports inserted at the oral vestibule and a CO2 insufflation pressure at 6-8 mm Hg. Each surgery was performed using laparoscopic instruments and ultrasonic or bipolar devices. Surgical outcome, complications and conversions to an open technique were recorded. RESULTS: Of the patients six presented with single thyroid nodules, two patients had multinodular goitre with scintigraphically cold nodules and multifocal hyperfunctioning thyroid tissue, one patient suffered from sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism with a left sided parathyroid adenoma and one patient suffered from a thyroglossal duct cyst. No conversion to conventional open surgery was necessary. Average tumor size was 3.1 cm (range 1-4 cm). There was no relevant loss of blood or subsequent bleeding. No temporary or permanent hoarseness or mental nerve injury occurred, while transient hypoparathyroidism was evident after successful parathyroid resection. Of the patients five developed a slight postoperative hematoma in the submandibular region. No infections or disorders of wound healing occurred. CONCLUSION: The TOETVA technique is feasible and safe in selected patients; however, further prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the value of the procedure, risks and long-term results.