BACKGROUND: The minimally invasive vídeo-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) without gas insufflation is considered safe with advantages in terms of cosmetic results compared to the conventional approach. Our objective is to compare the preliminar Brazilian experience on MIVAT and the conventional technique for hemithyroidectomy. METHODS: Twelve patients underwent hemithyroidectomy for thyroid nodular disease through MIVAT method (group I) and fourteen according to the conventional technique (group II). The following parameters were analyzed: gender, age, goiter volume, size of the longer axis of the dominant nodule, surgical time, pain complaint during the postoperative period, consmetic result and complications (vocal fold palsy, infection and hematoma). RESULTS: In group I, all patients were women, the median age was 34, the median goiter volume was 16.5 mL, the median size of the dominant nodule was 2.3 cm, the median surgical time was 55 minutes. Eight patients presented mild pain and four had no pain complaint. The median scar size was 2 cm. All patients considered the cosmetic result as excelent and there was no complication. In group II, the female/male ratio was 6:1, the median age was 35, the median volume was 18 mL, the median nodule size was 2.5 cm, the median time was 55 minutes. Seven patients presented mild pain, five moderate and two severe. The median scar size was 5 cm. Eleven patients considered the cosmetic results as excelent and three, good and there was no complication. CONCLUSIONS: The cosmetic results and the pain control in the postoperative period are adequate in MIVAT procedure without increasing the surgical time and complication rate.
Thyroid; Surgical procedures; minimally invasive; Video-assisted surgery; Thyroidectomy; Comparative study
