Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The analysis of this prospective study was to compare pain score results in patients who underwent minimally invasive video-assisted (MIVAT) versus minimally invasive open thyroidectomy (MIT) and in doing so further extrapolate and understand the potential advantages of video-assisted thyroid surgery.
METHOD
A total of 98 patients post-minimally invasive thyroidectomy from January 1 to December 31, 2008, are the subject matter of this study. Pain scores (0-10) assigned by the patients shortly after the thyroidectomy and after 24 hours post-operative forms the basic outcome variable. For statistical comparison of the distribution of the pain scores between patients the Kolmogrov-Smirnov test was employed.
RESULTS
The comparison pain score distribution using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for post-operative assessment yielded a Z-value of 2.84 (P < 0.001). The comparison pain score distribution at 24hrs yielded a Z-value of 1.48 (P < 0.05). These results imply the difference in distribution of pain scores among MIT and MIVAT group to be statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Video-assisted thyroidectomy appears to reduce the pain in patients shortly after the operation and 24 hours post-operative. The reduction is statistically significant. Male patients appear to report less pain compared to their female counterparts.