Is robotic parathyroidectomy a feasible and safe alternative to targeted open parathyroidectomy for the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism?

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether robotic parathyroidectomy (RP) is a feasible and safe alternative to targeted open parathyroidectomy for the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). A total of 36 papers were identified using the reported searches of which 5 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, date, journal, study type, population, main outcome measures and results are tabulated. Targeted parathyroidectomy constitutes the co-gold-standard procedure for pHPT with results equivalent to bilateral cervical exploration. This has led to the proliferation of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) techniques for pre-operatively localised adenomas. None has been shown to be overwhelmingly superior. RP constitutes the most recent addition. RP overcomes the limitations of conventional endoscopic surgery and simultaneously avoids a neck scar by concealing it in the axilla or infraclavicular area. The evidence from the present review shows that RP is feasible and leads to a superior cosmetic result compared to targeted open parathyroidectomy (TOP) with an equivalent safety profile. As with every surgical technique, appropriate patient selection is crucial. Long-term data are currently awaited on RP especially in view of its high cost and long operative time compared to TOP and other MIP techniques. Hence, RP offers a viable but costly alternative to other forms of MIP in patients where even the smallest and most cosmetic neck scar is not an option. (C) 2015 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.