Robotic thyroid surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma: Lessons learned from 100 consecutive surgeries

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of robotic thyroidectomy using the da Vinci surgical system. Patients and Methods: Between July 2008 and April 2011, the data revealed an initial series of 100 consecutive patients who underwent robotic thyroidectomy with the da Vinci-S surgical system using the bilateral axillo-breast approach for thyroid cancer. Prospectively collected data were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There were 88 cases of total thyroidectomy, 11 cases of lobectomy, and 1 case of total thyroidectomy with modified radical neck dissection. There was no conversion. The mean total operation time was 287.15±45.19 minutes for total thyroidectomy and 236.27±48.98 minutes for lobectomy. Nineteen patients experienced transient hypocalcemia and 3 patients experienced transient vocal fold palsy. All of the patients recovered within 3 months. Conclusions: Robotic thyroid surgery for patients with thyroid malignancy is safe and results in fewer postoperative complications than open thyroid surgery.