Endoscopic approaches in head and neck endocrine surgery − introduction of TOETVA (TransOral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy by Vestibular Approach) into clinical use at the Department of Surgery of the University Hospital in Brno

Summary

Transoral endoscopic surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands is a modification of neck surgery using natural orifices. The classic approach in neck surgery is the gold standard, which we modified in 2007 by introducing Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy/Parathyroid­ectomy (MIVAT/P). We have been using TransOral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy/Parathyroidectomy by Vestibular Approach (TOETVA/TOEPVA) since the end of the last year and have operated on four patients. This method is more attractive for patients because it does not leave a visible scar on the neck, which is common in MIVAT/P. TOETVA is a promising procedure with many advantages, such as healing without visible scars, less pain, minimally invasive dissection and a clear operating field to both thyroid lobes and parathyroid glands. Presentation of the first case. Patients indicated for TOETVA must meet certain criteria – nodule(s) up to 3.5 cm, gland volume up to 30 ml, benign FNAB, papillary, follicular carcinoma not advanced, well differentiated, up to the nodule size of 10 mm with 1 lymph node up to 10 mm. The contraindications include a large goiter, previous neck surgery, history of thyroiditis, lymphadenopathy of the neck, advanced thyroid cancer. Relative contraindications include previous radiotherapy to the throat, Grave´s disease, and obese patients with a short neck. Intraoperative findings may result in a modification of the procedure. TOETVA is an excellent choice for selected patients who want to avoid a neck incision. This method provides the benefit of using standard endoscopic instruments and techniques. It is a safe and effective procedure that provides a good cosmetic result and considerable comfort in terms of clarity of the operating field by zooming in with an endoscopic camera. Longer operating times become shorter due to the learning curve effect.

Keywords:

thyroid surgery − transoral endoscopy – TOETVA − case report of the first TOETVA patient at University Hospital Brno