Robotic Transaxillary Parathyroid Surgery

Abstract

The neck is anatomically complex, and incisions in this region commonly result in cosmetic complaints. Surgeons have worked to reduce the size of incisions used in the neck region through the use of ancillary instruments. One of these instruments, the Da Vinci Robotic System, is able to reach the neck using a wide variety of approaches. These approaches were first pioneered in thyroid and parathyroid surgeries. The most commonly used approach in robotic parathyroid surgery is transaxillary. We conducted a literature search to analyze the areas of use, advantages, and disadvantages of robotic transaxillary parathyroid surgery. The transaxillary approach does not create a scar in the neck region and significantly improves cosmetic outcomes for the patient, compared with conventional parathyroid surgery.