Comparison between Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy and Conventional Thyroidectomy: Is There Any Evidence-Based Information?

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) affords comparable safety and efficacy as to the open conventional surgery in dealing with patients with small thyroid nodules.Randomized controlled trials comparing the MIVAT with open thyroidectomy were ascertained by methodical search using Medline, Embase, Pubmed, and The Cochrane Library. Primary meta-analysis outcomes were adverse events (laryngeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism), and cosmesis and secondary outcomes were operative time, blood loss, and early and late postoperative pain.Operative time was significantly less with open thyroidectomy than with MIVAT, while MIV…