To explore the clinical outcome of endoscopic unilateral thyroidectomy by the axillary approach and the chest-breast approach.

From April 2014 to August 2017, clinical data of 148 patients underwent unilateral thyroidectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into axillary group (83 cases) and chest-breast group (65 cases). Statistical analysis were performed by using Stata 14.2 software package. Measurement data such as intraoperative and postoperative indicators were expressed as mean±standard deviation and examined by using t-test. The complication rate were compared by using chi square test. A P value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant difference.

The operation time of the axillary group was significantly lower than that of the breast group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the amount of bleeding, flow rate, drainage tube retention time and hospitalization time between 2 group (P>0.05). The subcutaneous hydrops in the axillary group were significantly less than those in the chest-breast group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference of incidence of incisional infection, parathyroid injury and hoarseness between 2 groups(P>0.05). The degree of postoperative satisfaction in the axillary group was significantly higher than that in the chest-breast group (Z=6.377, P=0.000).

Endoscopic unilateral thyroidectomy by the axillary approach has advantages including shorter of hospitalization, fewer complications and higher satisfaction, which is worthy of clinical promotion.