Factors affecting operative time in robotic thyroidectomy

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors related to operative time in robotic thyroidectomy.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 240 patients who underwent robotic thyroidectomy. The total thyroidectomy cases and lobectomy cases were both categorized into those with long operative times (LOTs; upper 25% of cases) and those with short operative times (SOTs; lower 25%).Results: Among the total thyroidectomy cases, body mass index (BMI) 23 kg/m(2) (hazard ratio [HR] 5.34; P = .008) and bilateral central neck dissection (CND; HR 14.92; P = .028) were more frequent in the LOT group in multivariate analysis. Among the lobectomy cases, BMI 23 kg/m(2) (HR 12.92; P = .003) and unilateral CND (HR 21.38; P = .017) were the only independent risk factors for prolonged operative time.Conclusion: Body habitus and clinical nodal status in the central compartment should be considered in deciding the indications for robotic thyroidectomy