Trans-oral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy via Vestibular Approach (TOETVA)

The conventional open surgical procedures for thyroid and parathyroid diseases result in scars on the front of the neck and are cosmetically unacceptable for many patients. The remote access thyroid and parathyroid surgical procedures were first introduced in 1996 [1, 2] and there was considerable interest among patients and surgeons. Subsequently, many innovations in surgical techniques and instruments were introduced. Newer energy sources for haemostasis, neuromonitoring systems, and surgical robots improved the outcomes of remote access procedures. The remote access procedures shifted the incisions to relatively hidden regions resulting in extensive dissections. The trans-oral approach shifts the scar to the natural orifice.