Endoscopic cephalic access thyroid surgery (EndoCATS) using the retroauricular approach - a single centre retrospective data analysis.

BACKGROUND Due to improvements in endoscopic as well as robotic technology, and a request for better cosmetic results, there was a significant increase in thyroid surgery using these methods during the past decade. METHODS The aim of our study is to evaluate the perioperative short- and long-term outcome as well as the learning curve of EndoCATS and the Quality of Life (QoL). RESULTS A total of 150 patients with 152 hemithyroidectomies who underwent endoscopic thyroid surgery by EndoCATS between 2010 and 2016 were enrolled in this study. The mean specimen volume was 15.04 g ± 7.89 g. The mean operation time was 132.79 ± 50.52 min. There is a significant reduction of the operation time after the 53th case. (p < 0.05) There was no acute rebleeding or permanent hypoparathyroidism. Permanent RLN palsy occurred in 3 nerves at risk (NAR) 1.97%. There were no cases of pneumothorax, postoperative infections or skin flap ischemia. 94.11% of the patients describe their state of general health as good as or better than before the surgery. CONCLUSIONS EndoCATS is a safe and effective, but a demanding single port access procedure; therefore, extensive training is required. An advantage is the near ideal visualization of the RLN and the parathyroid glands as well as the ability to recover even large specimens without difficulties.