Single-incision retroauricular robotic hemithyroidectomy can be a safe and feasible alternative to other remote access techniques. Neck lift surgery can be performed safely in a select group of patients. However, future studies are warranted to further evaluate the benefits and limitations of this novel approach.

Background Robotic surgery has been recently used as a novel tool for remote access thyroid surgery. We performed a meta-analysis of the current literature to examine the safety and oncological efficacy of robotic surgery compared to endoscopic and conventional approaches for different thyroid procedures. Methods A systematic search of the online data bases was done using the following (MeSH) terms "robotic surgery," "robotic thyroidectomy," "robot-assisted thyroidectomy," and "robot-assisted thyroid surgery." Outcomes measured included total operative time, length of hospital stay, postoperative thyroglobulin levels, and postoperative complications. Statistical differences were analyzed between groups through the standard means and/or relative risk by using STATA analytical software. Results In this study, 144 articles were identified; of which 18 of them met our inclusion criteria, totaling 4878 patients. Robotic approach was associated with longer total operative time (mean difference of 43.5 minutes) when compared to the conventional cervical approach (95% CI = 20.9-66.2; P < .001). Robotic approach was also found to have a similar risk of total postoperative complications when compared to the conventional and endoscopic approaches. Conclusion Robotic thyroid surgery is as safe, feasible and provides similar periperative complications and oncological outcomes when compared to both, conventional cervical and endoscopic approaches. However, robotic thyroid surgery is associated with longer operative time when compared to the conventional open approach.

A number of surgeons today have adapted new surgical techniques for thyroid surgery. Even though conventional thyroidectomy remains in the gold standard for thyroidectomy with low morbidity and excellent outcomes, minimally invasive and remote-access techniques have been used in an attempt to avoid visible neck scars without compromising patients' safety and the effectiveness of the procedure.

Background: Performance of thyroid surgery as a same day surgery procedure has been a controversial topic. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of outpatient thyroid surgery with inpatient thyroid surgery by meta-analysis of current literature.Methods: Articles were identified from the following keyword searches: outpatient thyroidectomy/thyroid surgery, same day thyroidectomy/thyroid surgery. Outcomes included perioperative complications including recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury, hypocalcemia, and readmissions. Data were extracted following review of appropriate studies by authors and random effects models were used.Results: 34 potentially relevant publications were identified and 14 studies fulfilled the predetermined inclusion criteria, totaling 10,478 patients, 4,565 of whom were discharged the same day following thyroid surgery. There was no difference in malignancy rate between the two groups (95% CI, 0.84-2.31; P=0.196).Inpatient group were 2.23 times (95% CI, 1.36-3.36; P=0.001) more likely to develop transient RLN injury and 2.32 times (95% CI, 1.06-5.06; P=0.034) more likely to have documented transient hypocalcemia compared to outpatients. Inpatient groups were 2.10 times (95% CI, 1.33-3.33; P=0.002) more likely to have documented other complications. The two groups also had similar readmission rates (95% CI, 0.71-1.41; P=1.000).Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that discharging selective patients the same day after a thyroid surgery is as safe, feasible, and efficacious as admitting them for observation. Admitting patients after thyroid surgery is associated with higher reported risk of complications.

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