Conventional Open Thyroidectomy

Thyroidectomy is one of the most commonly performed endocrine procedures in world. Conventional open thyroidectomy more frequently undertaken than its minimally invasive counterpart. Elective treatment choice for benign and malignant thyroid disease includes total near-total thyroidectomy, lobo-isthmectomy. Open requires careful preoperative patient preparation and, among other skills, thorough knowledge regional anatomy variations mastering distinct steps surgical technique. These are: incision; exposure gland; dissection superior parathyroid glands; identification preservation external branch laryngeal nerve; isolation ligation artery middle vein; recurrent nerve (RLN) throughout course, inferior glands before (ITA). High variability characterizes relationship between RLN anatomical structures anterior compartment neck, although generally it consistently found within a few millimeters ITA. Use harmonic scalpel or electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system must be procedure so as not to cause thermal damage.