Manipal: Kasturba Hospital, Manipal performed Endoscopic Thyroidectomy on a 35-year-old woman from Channagiri with few small incisions in and around the arm pit, without any incision in the neck. The conventional method is to surgically perform the procedure after making an incision of about 12 inches on the neck, which leaves long and permanent scars.

In this case, two doctors of Kasturba Hospital Dr Chethan K, Assoc Professor and Unit In charge, Department of Surgery ably assisted by Dr Reetesh Shetty did the minimally invasive thyroidectomy which was done for the first time in coastal Karnataka. Minimal access approaches are playing an ever increasing role in neck surgery as they result in complete elimination of the scar on the neck. However, case selection is very important as this surgery is unsuitable for large thyroids.

“It combines the benefits of the minimal access approach and precision. There is virtually no scar in visible areas after surgery. The scars are in the unexposed parts offering a great cosmetic advantage, especially to women of all age groups," Dr ( Col ) M Dayananda Medical Superintendent and COO said.