Comparing transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy with conventional surgery in a UK population: A case control study.

INTRODUCTION: Transaxillary robotic thyroid surgery was pioneered in South Korea where cultural factors, anthropometry and remuneration favour this. Small thyroid nodules account for the majority of cases due to a national thyroid cancer screening programme. However, the technique has not been evaluated in the United Kingdom where larger thyroid nodules tend to undergo surgery in a patient population with a higher body mass index (BMI).

METHODS: Long term prospective non-randomised study. Sixteen consecutive robotic hemithyroidectomy patients were compared to 16 open controls.

RESULTS: There were no robotic conversions to open and no significant difference regarding pain, voice, or quality of life (QoL). In the robotic group, long term. scar cosmesis at 3 years was superior (p = 0.02) although the operative time was significantly longer (228 min vs. 85 min, p = 0.01). One patient had a transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis and another had temporary shoulder dysfunction. Both resolved in 4 weeks.

DISCUSSION: This study highlights the considerable difference between a Western patient population compared to South East Asia. Despite this robotic thyroidectomy is feasible and safe in a UK population.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite a low uptake in the UK compared to the Far East, robotic thyroidectomy represents a viable option for selected patients, achieving superior cosmesis compared with conventional thyroidectomy at the expense of time and cost. The key is careful patient selection. A randomised study is needed to establish the clinical efficacy compared to conventional surgery in this population.