31.05.2022

Minimally invasive thyroid surgery performed at Sechenov University

 Minimally invasive thyroid surgery performed at Sechenov University

чDoctors at Sechenov University’s Centre for Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery of the University Clinical Hospital No. 1, for the first time in their practice, removed a thyroid tumour through the oral cavity.

The surgeons used the innovative Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach (TOETVA), which is a remote access thyroid surgery technique allowing to perform operations on the thyroid gland through the mouth’s vestibule — via incisions of the size of up to 10 mm on the inner side of the lower lip. With this approach, patients do not experience strong pain, do not have post-operative scars, and recover faster.

Physicians have been developing minimally invasive techniques for thyroid and parathyroid surgery for many years. Among the used approaches are interventions through the armpit, the areola of the mammary glands, and the area behind the ears. The high-tech, minimally invasive Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) has been found to be the best option.

Professor Fedor Vetshev, Head of the Centre for Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, says that both doctors and patients favour the method because of its innovative endovideoscopic technology, minimal invasiveness, excellent aesthetic effect, and fast recovery. However, the world’s overall experience in transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy is small.

“The surgery was performed with the participation of Bektosh Nasimov, an endocrine surgeon and our graduate who has extensive experience in such operations. The interventions performed for follicular adenomas of the thyroid gland in young female patients led to a wonderful aesthetic result — because there are no incisions on the neck. The patients were discharged from hospital on the third day without complications,” said Fedor Vetshev.