Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy: Early Outcomes at Military Hospital 175
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Abstract
Background: Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) offers genuinely scarless access to the thyroid gland, yet institutional data from Vietnam remain sparse. We report the early outcomes at Military Hospital 175 following introduction of the technique in January 2024.
Methods: A prospective descriptive case series of 65 consecutive patients undergoing TOETVA at Military Hospital 175 between November 2025 and May 2026. Primary endpoints were operative time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, early complication rates, postoperative pain assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) on day 1, and cosmetic satisfaction (VAS at 1 month post-operatively).
Results: The cohort was predominantly female (86.2%; mean age 31 ± 9.7 years). Mean operative time was 90 min (range 70–120), mean blood loss 6.67 ± 2.3 mL, and mean hospital stay 7.1 ± 1.8 days. Transient complications included mental nerve paraesthesia (12.3%), temporary hoarseness (7.7%), delayed vocal recovery (3.1%), and cervical seroma (4.6%). One patient developed transient hypocalcaemia (1.5%). Two cases (3.1%) required conversion to open surgery, both due to uncontrolled intraoperative haemorrhage. No permanent complications were observed. Cosmetic satisfaction VAS at 1 month was 7.4 ± 0.9, with 55.4% of patients reporting very high satisfaction (VAS ≥ 8).
Conclusion: TOETVA is safe and feasible during the early institutional implementation phase, with a complication profile comparable to published international series and high patient-reported cosmetic satisfaction. Expansion within the Vietnamese military and civilian healthcare system is warranted for appropriately selected patients.
Keywords
TOETVA, thyroid surgery, transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy, early outcomes, cosmetic satisfaction, Military Hospital 175
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References
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