Visualization of the nerve and parathyroids is critical -- just because the camera can see them well (as plainly as we see them during traditional minimal invasive surgery) does not mean that damage is less likely.
I was able to find a few articles online about the specific machine used for mine, I can send you links if you want. I know they do them in Chicago and TX where I am at. It specifically says in the articles how the camera allows them to see the parathyroid glands and vocal cords in such clarity that it helps with preventing accidental damage.
I thought they would be small incisions like for knee or shoulder arthroscopic, (small), but that's ok .. those scars can be hidden.
I just wanted to clarify that I'm not completely scarless. I have a 2 inch? scar going down my armpit, and a very small scar on my chest. Its just less noticeable than having it the conventual way.
Yes. She did ....I suppose that by still having 1/2 of my thyroid intact, and the possible prospect of one day having to have it removed if my "stable" nodule changes or becomes suspicious for cancer, I may be extremely interested in this procedure given the fact I had complications of spitting stitches and stitch abscesses along with a secondary cyst that became infected and had to be removed above the incision line. That secondary cyst was benign and deemed a 1.5cm "infectious granuloma" whose scar is worse than the partial thyroidectomy!
The no-scar is most appealing for those, like me who don't heal so well!
C~
CC9
I think Smilerdeb had this procedure.
The axillary approach is not used in the US outside some university settings. Most reports I believe have been from China. Endoscopic approaches may not be much safer for voice or parathyroid complications. More research is needed on this.