Comparison of endoscopic and open thyroidectomy / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate advantages and disadvantages of endoscopic thyroidectomy.Methods A total of 61 consecutive patients with thyroid diseases from December 2003 to August 2004 in this hospital were freely divided into two groups: the Endoscopic Group(30 patients) and the Open Group(31 patients).The operating time,blood loss,hospital stay,postoperative pain assessment,jugular sensation 3 months after operation, swallowing function,and cosmetic outcomes between the two groups were compared.Results The operating time in the Open Group was significantly shorter than that in the Endoscopic Group(78?34 min vs 126?53 min;t=4.125,P=0.000).The intraoperative blood loss was less in the Endoscopic Group(20?13 ml) than in the Open Group(34?19 ml)(t=-3.313,P=0.002).The postoperative pain in the Endoscopic Group was slighter than that in the Open Group 24 and 48 hours after operation(t=3.255,P=0.002;t=-2.598,P=0.012).Three months after operation,jugular hypesthesia and discomfort at swallowing occurred in 1 and 2 patients in the Endoscopic Group,respectively,whereas jugular hypesthesia or paresthesia occurred in 11 patients(?~2=10.594,P=0.001) and discomfort at swallowing happened in 9 patients((?~2=5.773),P=0.016) in the Open Group.All patients in the Endoscopic Group were satisfied with the cosmetic results,but 19 patients in the Open Group complained of unsatisfactory cosmetic outcomes(?~2=52.141,P=0.000).Conclusions Endoscopic thyroidectomy gives little blood loss,mild postoperative pain,and good cosmetic results,being a feasible and safe procedure.