Patient‐reported swallowing outcomes after transoral robotic thyroidectomy: Comparison with conventional transcervical thyroidectomy

Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the swallowing outcomes after transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) and compare them with those of conventional transcervical thyroidectomy. Method We enrolled 146 patients who underwent thyroidectomy (73 TORT; 73 conventional approach). We prospectively analyzed swallowing outcomes using the Swallowing Impairment Index‐6 (SIS‐6) questionnaire, a patient‐reported measure, before and 1, 3, and 6 days; 1, 3, and 6 months; and 1 year after surgery. Propensity score‐matched analysis was performed using three covariates: age, sex, and extent of thyroidectomy. Results SIS‐6 scores worsened significantly immediately after surgery and progressively recovered 1 year postoperatively in both groups. Propensity score matching generated two matched groups of 22 patients each. In the propensity score‐matched samples, the SIS‐6 scores did not differ between the TORT and conventional groups, except at 1 day postoperatively. Conclusion Patient‐reported swallowing outcomes of TORT were comparable to those of the conventional transcervical procedure.