Influence of subcutaneous dissection area on the surgical indexes of endoscopic thyroidectomy        ZHANG Wei，QIU Ming，SHAN Cheng-xiang，et al. Third Division of Department of General Surgery，Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to Second Military Medical University，Shanghai 200003，China
Corresponding author: QIU Ming，E-mail：qiuming2006@yahoo.cn
Abstract    Objective    To analyze the influence of subcutaneous dissection area on surgical indexes and results of breast approach endoscopic thyroidectomy. Methods    Patients underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy between September 2011 and December 2011 in Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to Second Military Medical University were randomized allotted into standard dissection group and limited dissection group. Operative duration，blood loss, total length of incisions，postoperative pain and drainage volume were compared between two groups. Results    Subcutaneous dissection area was significantly larger in standard group than that in limited dissection group ［（137.07±26.28）cm2 vs.（92.07±17.41）cm2，P＜0.05］. But there was no significant difference in operative duration，blood loss and length of incisions between two groups. There was also no significant difference in postoperative pain (VAS （3.93±1.94） vs.（4.13±1.06），P=0.729) and drainage volume （124.00±28.98）mL vs.（109.00±27.46）mL，P=0.327) between two groups. Conclusion Subcutaneous dissection area of endoscopic thyroidectomy is not the influential factor contributing to postoperative pain. Getting into the right dissection plane should be emphasized.