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Abstract Purpose: This study aims to present our experience with robotic thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma via Modified BABA (Bilateral Axillo Breast Approach) and Retroauricular approach. Methods: It is a retrospective observational single institution-based study comprising 19 patients who underwent robotic thyroid surgery for thyroid carcinoma between October 2018 and January 2022. All patients underwent robotic thyroidectomy via the da Vinci Xi Robotic surgical system. Results: Nineteen patients underwent robotic thyroidectomy, and none of the patients needed conversion to open surgery. Nine patients (47.3%) underwent thyroidectomy by Modified BABA approach, whereas ten patients (52.7%) underwent Retroauricular thyroidectomy. In 10 patients, central compartment clearance was done (5 through Modified BABA and 5 through Retroauricular approach). Lateral neck nodes were addressed in 4 patients (1 through Modified BABA and 3 through Retroauricular). The median lymph node retrieval from the central compartment was six (2-15 nodes), and 51 nodes (22-108) from the lateral compartment. The median hospital stay was four days (2 to 6 days). None of the 19 patients had post-operative RLN palsy or any scar-related complaints /hypertrophic scars. The average PTH value post-op was 32.1 pg/ml (3.8-70.4 pg/ml). Conclusion: Robotic thyroidectomy is superior to cosmesis and comparable to open surgery, given safety and most perioperative outcomes in carefully selected patients. However, it has the disadvantage of being associated with higher costs, which becomes a constraint in developing countries.
Agarwal et al. (Mon,) studied this question.