Trans‐axillary Robotic Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy: A Preliminary Single Institution Experience

Objectives:1) Review our first 13 robotic assisted trans-axillary thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy (TART/TARP) cases, looking at the clinical and pathological data as well as technical challenges associated with this approach. 2) Examine and discuss complications associated with this approach.Methods:Retrospective series of 13 patients who underwent TART/TARP at our institution. Patient demographics, pathology and size of thyroid glands removed, intraoperative details, length of stay, and postoperative complications were recorded.Results:Over a 14-month period from October 2011 to December 2012, 11 patients (12 female, 1 male) underwent TART, and 2 patients underwent TARP. Mean age was 54 years (range, 29-76 years). All thyroidectomies were partial. Both left-sided parathyroid adenomas had been localized with preoperative imaging to fit criteria for single gland exploration. The largest thyroid lobe removed was 6.5 x 3.5 x 2.8 cm. Pathology was benign thyroid disease in 9 and well differentiated papill...