Gasless transaxillary endoscopic thyroidectomy has become a widely used surgical alternative due to the recent advances in the operative techniques and laparoscopic instruments, and its cosmetic superiority. The aim of this study is to analyze the factors associated with complications following surgery by reviewing 49 patients who underwent gasless transaxillary endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Between Nov. 2006 and Jun. 2009, 49 patients underwent gasless transaxillary endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach. The clinical and pathologic characteristics, operation type, postoperative hospital stay, operation time and post operative complications were retrospectively analyzed.

Among the 49 patients, 37 had benign tumors and 12 had malignant tumors. Unilateral thyroid lobectomies were generally performed for benign tumors. For malignant ones, 7 lobectomies and 5 lobectomies with central lymph node dissection were done. In pathological review, most common benign disease was nodular hyperplasia, and the most common malignancy was papillary microcarcinoma. The mean operative time was 160.7±38.2 minutes (100~295). The postoperative complications were as follows; neck and anterior chest discomfort (19 cases), operation wound infection (5 cases), seroma (3 cases), swallowing difficulty (3 cases) and hoarseness (3 cases).

Gasless transaxillary endoscopic thyroidectomy is a feasible and safe operation, and provides excellent cosmetic results. But there are still postoperative complications, it should be considered to reduce.