Frontiers in Endocrinology (Oct 2021)

Practice Patterns and Learning Curve in Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach With Neuromonitoring

  • Ting-Chun Kuo,
  • Ting-Chun Kuo,
  • Quan-Yang Duh,
  • Yi-Chia Wang,
  • Chieh-Wen Lai,
  • Kuen-Yuan Chen,
  • Ming-Tsan Lin,
  • Ming-Hsun Wu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.744359
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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ObjectivesIntraoperative neuromonitoring has not been routinely applied in early experience with the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA). Because the preparation and surgical interventions are much different from conventional thyroidectomies, most endocrine surgeons willing to adapt to TOETVA lack access to information regarding the practice pattern and proficiency in the learning curve. We aimed to investigate the outcomes and to define the learning curve for TOETVA in this study.MethodsA retrospective analysis was used on patients who underwent TOETVA at our hospital between December 2016 and July 2019. The cumulative sum graphic model was used to implement the learning curve as a surrogate for procedural proficiency.ResultsThe 119 patients had a mean age of 44.65 years and a mean body mass index of 22.49 k/m2, including 107 women, 20 thyroiditis, and 106 hemithyroidectomy. The learning curve revealed two phases, an initial (35 cases) and a mature (84 cases) phase, for surgeons based on operation time (144.2 vs. 114.2 min, p = 0.0001). There were more bilateral thyroidectomies (15.5% vs. 0, p = 0.0100), larger indicated nodules (6.06 cm3vs. 3.32 cm3, p = 0.0468), or larger thyroids to resect (16.38 cm3vs. 8.75 cm3, p = 0.0001) in the mature phase. Procedure-related complications decreased significantly in the mature phase in comparison to the initial phase (3.57% vs. 31.43%, p = 0.0001).ConclusionsThe learning curve of TOETVA with neuromonitoring is 35 cases. With the accumulation of proficiency, the indications will expand. Step-by-step improvements from the experience of each case can reduce procedure-related complications.

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