RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Comparison of 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional endoscopic thyroid lobectomy via the trans-thoracoareolar approach JF Saudi Medical Journal JO Saudi Med J FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City SP 142 OP 146 DO 10.15537/smj.2018.2.21295 VO 39 IS 2 A1 Zi-Fang Zheng A1 Li-Min Wu A1 Chen-Xing Jian A1 Wei Liu YR 2018 UL http://smj.org.sa/content/39/2/142.abstract AB Objectives: To evaluate retrospectively the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of 3-dimensional (3D) endoscopic thyroid lobectomy via a trans-thoracoareolar approach in comparison with the 2-dimensional (2D) approach.Methods: We performed a retrospective and cross-sectional analysis of the data of 100 patients who underwent endoscopic thyroid lobectomy via the trans-thoracoareolar approach between January 2014 and November 2016. The patients were classified: into 2 equal groups depending on whether the 3D or 2D endoscopic approach was employed. The 2 groups were compared for various intraoperative and postoperative parameters.Results: The values of total operative time, lobectomy time, suture time, and intraoperative blood loss in the 3D endoscopy group were significantly less than those in the 2D endoscopy group. Additionally, the incidence rates of complications in the 3D endoscopy group were significantly less than those in the 2D endoscopy group. However, the groups were similar with regard to the incidence of transient hypocalcemia, subcutaneous congestion, subcutaneous effusion, and cough; postoperative drainage volume; extubation time; postoperative hospitalization time; and total hospitalization expenses.Conclusions: Three-dimensional endoscopic thyroid lobectomy required less operative time and entailed a low risk of injury to adjacent structures, without causing any increase in the rate of postoperative complications, indicating that the 3D endoscopic technique was superior to 2D endoscopy.