Purpose: The incidence of thyroid cancer in Korea is high, with the disease usually observed in young women. Thyroid cancer surgery should focus on both oncologic safety and good cosmetic outcomes. The bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) to thyroid surgery, which has been performed for over 10 years, has shown good oncologic and cosmetic outcomes. This study reports the initial results of robotic BABA thyroidectomy with the Da Vinci Xi system at Inha University Hospital in Incheon, Korea. Methods: This study included 53 patients who underwent BABA robotic thyroidectomy, performed by a single endocrine surgeon using the Da Vinci Xi system, between December 2018 and March 2019. Patients medical records and surgery videos were retrospectively reviewed, and their clinical and surgical characteristics, pathological findings, and shortterm postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Results: The 53 patients included 9 men and 44 women of mean age 44.51±10.36 years (range, 24-64 years). Mean robotic console times were 75.08±15.96 minutes for lobectomy and 93.53±17.86 minutes for total thyroidectomy. Forty-five patients were diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Vocal cord palsy occurred in one patient and transient hypocalcemia in 8, with all resolving after 2 months. Cosmetic outcomes were excellent and there were no serious or unexpected complications. Conclusion: BABA robotic thyroid surgery using the Da Vinci Xi system was successfully started at a hospital in Inchon, Korea. Long-term prospective cohort studies including larger numbers of patients are required to assess outcomes.
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INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
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