Comparing trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach and trans-areolar approaches regarding postoperative infections and swallowing difficulty

Table 1 Basic characteristics of patients with transoral approach and areolar thyroidectomy, mean ± SD

Ref.	Country	Age/years	Females	Type of operation	Pathology
Guo et al[14]	China	29.8 ± 0.96 vs 33.75 ± 1.19	All women	Lobectomy	Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas
Shen et al[15]	China	37.8 ± 12.4 vs 41.2 ± 11.9	63.2% vs 64.9%	Lobectomy	Benign thyroid nodules
Xu et al[9]	China	30.46 ± 6.93 vs 33.3 ± 6.94	91.7% vs 88.6%	Lobectomy	Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas
Yan et al[8]	China	32.14 ± 6.54 vs 34.56 ± 7.06	73.8% vs 83.3%	Lobectomy	Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Zhang et al[17]	China	22.2 ± 3.0 vs 23.7 ± 3.8	91.7% vs 100%	Lobectomy	Unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma
Zhang et al[16]	China	33.4 ± 6.8 vs 34.4 ± 7.6	70.4% vs 100%	Lobectomy	Unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma

Table 2 Postoperative infections among patients with transoral approach and areolar thyroidectomy

Ref.	Country	Study type	TOETVA	Areolar approach	Results
Guo et al[14]	China	Retrospective	1/40	0/40	Not significant
Shen et al[15]	China	Prospective	1/57	3/74	Not significant
Xu et al[9]	China	Retrospective	1/48	1/44	Not significant
Yan et al[8]	China	Retrospective	3/48	2/42	Not significant
Zhang et al[17]	China	Retrospective	1/60	0/65	Not significant
Zhang et al[16]	China	Retrospective	1/45	0/50	Not significant

TOETVA: Trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach.

Table 3 Swallowing difficulties among patients with transoral approach and areolar thyroidectomy

Ref.	Country	Study type	TOETVA	Areolar approach	Results
Shen et al[15]	China	Prospective	3/57	7/74	Significant
Xu et al[9]	China	Retrospective	3/48	2/44	Significant
Zhang et al[16]	China	Retrospective	2/45	1/50	Not significant

TOETVA: Trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach.

Table 4 The risk of bias of the included studies (Newcastle Ottawa Scale)

Ref.	Selection	Compatibility	Outcome	Score
Guo et al[14]	2	2	3	7
Shen et al[15]	2	2	3	7
Xu et al[9]	2	2	3	7
Yan et al[8]	2	2	3	7
Zhang et al[17]	2	1	3	6
Zhang et al[16]	2	2	3	7