International Journal of General Medicine (Mar 2022)

Evolution of Endoscopic Thyroidectomy: Will a Novel Single Channel Flexible Endoscopic Approach Change the Treatment Paradigm?

  • Hu B,
  • Ding H

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 2795 – 2798

Abstract

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Bowen Hu,1 Huanfei Ding2 1Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Bowen Hu, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 Eastern Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-15286819833, Email [email protected]: Endoscopic thyroidectomy has evolved from a hybrid approach utilizing a laparoscopic assistant and robotic-assistance to pure flexible endoscopic thyroidectomy without laparoscopic assistance. However, all the hybrid approaches are complicated and results in scar somewhere on the body surface. Current experimental and clinical studies focus on the implementation of new minimally invasive approaches such as flexible endoscopic thyroidectomy which leaves no scar on the body surface and easier to perform. Flexible endoscopic thyroidectomy is seeming to be a relatively safe and feasible technique with good outcomes. However, more research, particularly using newly developed tools to further improve this technique, and large scaled practice is needed to make it more available to patients worldwide. This article summarizes established endoscopic thyroidectomy techniques and highlight the pros and cons of different available endoscopic approaches to thyroid resection, and discussed how flexible endoscopic thyroidectomy compares to the well establish techniques and future perspective.Keywords: NOTES, endoscopic thyroidectomy, flexible endoscopy, laparoscopy, robotic endoscopic surgery

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