The thyroid gland, reached with a special method through the area between the lower lip and the teeth with the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy method, is operated on with a closed method. While this method is performed in only a few centers in Europe, the first public hospital in Turkey to apply it became Kepez State Hospital. Specialists at the hospital operated on their 4th patient.
İçindekiler
The 4th patient of Antalya Kepez State Hospital, the first public hospital in Turkey where thyroid gland surgery is performed by reaching the area between the lower lip and the teeth with a special method, was teacher Zeynep Bulut (25). Bulut, who underwent surgery with a diagnosis of thyroid cancer, was discharged in less than 24 hours.
With the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy method performed at Kepez State Hospital, the thyroid gland, reached with a special method through the area between the lower lip and the teeth, is operated on with a closed method. At Kepez State Hospital, the first public hospital where the method—performed in a few centers in Europe, and in Turkey at university hospitals in Istanbul and Izmir—is applied, the 4th patient was operated on.
Her Biggest Fear Was Damage To Her Vocal Cords
Zeynep Bulut, a social studies teacher living in Mardin, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer as a result of a needle biopsy performed 1 month ago. Not wanting to undergo surgery with the open method, Bulut reached the physicians in Antalya upon the recommendation of an acquaintance. Zeynep Bulut, who applied to Kepez State Hospital, was very happy when she learned as a result of the examinations that she could be operated on with the closed method. Bulut, whose biggest fear was that her vocal cords would be damaged during surgery, was able to eat and drink in less than 24 hours after the surgery performed with the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy method. Saying, “I was very afraid that my vocal cords would be harmed, because after all I perform my profession with my voice,” Zeynep Bulut said that she feels very good. Bulut said, “I had surgery yesterday and I am very well today. I hope I return to my students as soon as possible. I am very happy. I have no problem. My pain is very, very little,” she said.
More Reliable Compared To Open Surgery
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bülent Dinç from the General Surgery Clinic of Atatürk State Hospital, who performed the surgery, stated that in the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy method, the goiter gland is reached using special devices through a small incision made inside the mouth. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinç said, “The area between the lower lip and the teeth is opened and by advancing over the jaw, the neck region is reached. After that region is expanded with special methods, the surgery is performed with instruments similar to those used in the closed method,” he said. Stating that in this surgery performed with the closed method, there is no scar on the neck as in the classical method, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinç said, “Also, we do not place a drain for the patient and there is less pain. The possible risk we fear the most is damage to the vocal cords, but since the devices used in this method enlarge the tissues approximately 10 times, we can see and protect the nerve. Therefore, it is a safer form of surgery compared to the open method,” he said.
A Common Technique In The Far East
Adding that they operated on 4 patients with this method in about 1.5 months, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinç said, “We plan to increase this number to 10 within this month. The criteria in this method are that it can be applied up to a diameter of 2 cm in cancer patients, and up to 4 cm diameter nodules in non-cancer patients. There is no age limit,” he said. Stating that transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy is a very new technique for Turkey and Europe, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinç stated the following:
“It is a technique used a lot in the Far East. Since the sensitivity of Far Eastern people regarding the skin and neck is known, it is a technique developed there. We also received training on this in the Far East. It is a method that has not yet become widespread in Europe. In Turkey, it is performed in some centers in Istanbul and Izmir, but as a public hospital, we are the first in Turkey.”
Specialist Dr. Mehmet İlker Turan from the General Surgery Clinic of Kepez State Hospital said that their 4th patient, Zeynep Bulut, is in very good health and that she was discharged even though 24 hours have not passed since the surgery.
