Gasless, endoscopic trans-axillary thyroid surgery: our series of the first 51 human cases

BACKGROUND: The safety of gasless endoscopic trans-axillary thyroid surgery is still undetermined. METHODS: Clinical findings and postoperative complications of patients who had undergone trans-axillary thyroid surgery due to thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules were retrospectively studied. The sensory change and paralysis results from this technique and patients’ satisfaction with the cosmesis were also studied. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients (49 females and 2 males) received operations by gasless, endoscopic trans-axillary approaches with one patient whose operation was converted to open surgery because of internal jugular vein injury. Only two patients developed temporary vocal cord paralysis and no patients developed other severe complications. The alleviation of the discomfort in the anterior neck area and sternocleidomastoid, and the cosmetic effect of gasless endoscopic trans-axillary thyroid surgery were acceptable. No evidence of recurrence was found during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Gasless, endoscopic trans-axillary thyroid surgery is a feasible procedure with acceptable safety and better cosmetic results in strictly selected patients.