Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Summary

The transoral robotic total thyroidectomy and bilateral central regional lymph node dissection using three ports without axillary incision are feasible and safe for early-stage papillary thyroid carcinoma. Here we present the operative techniques of this operation.

Abstract

Currently, the common approaches to thyroid surgery include conventional thyroidectomy, bilateral axillo-breast, axillary, retroauricular, and oral vestibule approaches. Essentially, various approaches to thyroid surgery only move the traditional surgical incision to a more concealed position but still leave scars on the body surface. Among them, thyroid surgery via the oral vestibule approach can obtain the best cosmetic outcome through the shortest natural cavity. However, in the early time, thyroid surgery via the oral vestibule approach usually requires three incisions in the mouth and one axillary incision. We have introduced a robotic surgical system into thyroidectomy via the oral vestibule approach and successfully completed total thyroidectomy and bilateral central lymph node dissection. During the operation, only three incisions were made at the oral vestibule without an axillary incision. This article aims to present the unique three-port method of robotic thyroidectomy via oral vestibule for the treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Introduction

Thyroid surgeons use different surgical approaches (bilateral axillary breast approach¹ [Figure 1], axillary approach² [Figure 2], retroauricular approach³ [Figure 3], etc.) to conceal surgical incisions and achieve scarless thyroid surgery in the neck. However, none of these technologies can completely avoid scars on the patient's skin surface. In all methods, only the oral vestibule approach (Figure 4) can achieve the shortest distance of flap separation, leaving no scar on....

Protocol

This study follows the guidelines of the Army Medical University's Human Research Ethics Committee. All patients mentioned in the study signed informed consent forms.

1. Preoperative preparation

1. After successful nasotracheal intubation, place the patient supine with the head and neck into hyperextension.
2. Let the eyes close naturally. Apply eye ointment and cover the area from the top of the brow bone to the nasal flanks with an appropriate eye patch o.......

Discussion

Some scholars have reported transoral robotic thyroid surgery. In Kim's series of TORT studies, the authors used four robotic arms on's automated platforms to perform the TORT procedure. A fourth arm was used via a transaxillary incision primarily for traction of the strap muscles, and this access was also used to extract specimens and place drains when needed^13,14.

In this three-port robot approach, one transverse incision of about 8 .......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
4-0 absorbable sutures	Covidien	VLOCM0023	Suture the linea alba cervicalis
5-0 Polyglactin braided absorbable suture	Johnson & Johnson	VCP433H	Oral mucosa suture
8 mm Cadiere forceps	Intuitive Surgical, Inc	LOT N10210823	Clamp tissue
8 mm Harmonic ACE scalpel	Intuitive Surgical, Inc	REF 480275	Coagulation, expand operating space
8 mm Maryland bipolar forceps	Intuitive Surgical, Inc	LOT K10210830 REF 470172	Expose the recurrent laryngeal nerve
8 mm Monopolar curved scissors	Intuitive Surgical, Inc	LOT K10211108 REF 470179	Fine capsular anatomy
Carbon Nanoparticles Suspension Injection	Chongqing Laimei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd	N/A	1 mL/50 mg; used for tracing regional drainage lymph nodes.
Da Vinci Xi Surgical System	Intuitive Surgical, Inc	Xi	Surgical system
Endoscopy surgical specimen setrieval bag	Hangzhou Kangji Medical Equipment Co.Ltd.	LOT 22021921 REF 104Y.111	Remove specimens from air cavity
Medical pressure garment	Foshan qiaoke bio technology Co.Ltd.	20200149	Pressure dressing of the anterior neck area of the mandible