Royal Hospital performs first-of-its-kind surgery

MUSCAT: A team of surgeons from the Royal Hospital (RH), led by Dr Riyaz Ahmed with the assistance of anesthetists and nursing staff, have performed the first-of-its-kind trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET) in the Sultanate. This approach enabled the removal of thyroid gland tumors through the mouth from two patients without using the conventional trans-cervical approach that requires surgical intervention through the back of the neck.

The procedure involved making of incision through the mouth then inserting the instruments through the mouth to reach the diseased thyroid area. Afterwards, the medical cadre approached the thyroid gland and removed the cancer by the endoscope. The technique took only two hours.

Speaking on this therapeutic technique, Dr Riyaz Ahmed, Endocrine Surgery and Endoscopy Senior Consultant said that it was first performed in Thailand then followed by rare attempts made by specialised centres around the world.

This approach has many advantages compared to the other standard thyroid operations that were performed through the neck.

Advantages can be seen in various areas, such as avoidance of surgical interventions through the neck and complications are much less, in addition that the patient can go home next morning and practice his normal life after two days from the surgery.