Endocrine Abstracts

Background: To evaluate the technical feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT), using the da Vinci system through analysis of our series of 1000 consecutive patients.

Method: A review of a prospectively designed database at our institute from September 2012 to February 2022 revealed a series of 1000 consecutive TORT patients with preoperative diagnosis of various thyroid diseases. Clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical outcomes were analyzed.

Results: All except one operation were performed successfully without open or laparoscopic conversion. There were 895 hemithyroidectomies, 8 isthmusectomies, and 97 total thyroidectomies. The mean total operation time and console time were 179.03±42.81 and 112.40±37.07 minutes, respectively. There were 45 postoperative complication events including infection, mental nerve injury, flap injury, transient vocal cord palsy, delayed hematoma, and oral commissure tearing. The mean duration of hospitalization for patients after the operation was 2.6±0.9 days. The average tumor size was 0.88±0.65 cm for malignant tumor and 2.65±0.92 cm for benign nodules, while the average number of retrieved lymph nodes were 5.49±4.1.

Conclusion: This study is the largest single-institution experience to demonstrate that TORT can be applied safely and effectively for patients with thyroid disease.