Conclusion
This literature review compares the clinical outcome of SBC removal between conventional surgery and endoscopic surgery or open/endoscopic RAHI. Surgical treatment of uninfected SBCs provides a definitive solution with no reported recurrence using either one of the techniques during relatively short follow up (range: [3 to 24 months]). Endoscopic or (endoscopic) RAHI surgery results in significantly higher scar satisfaction in comparison with the conventional technique in adults, however, causes more temporary complications (0 – 27.3%). Since follow up was short, recurrence rates could be underreported and scar satisfaction could be affected by not (yet) judging the final scar result. Large prospective studies with long-term follow up (> five years) are currently lacking and will be essential to confirm whether newer techniques (endoscopic surgery or open/endoscopic RAHI) indeed result in higher scar satisfaction and less recurrence on the long-term.
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Appendix 1: Search syntax:
Pubmed:
1. (((second[Title/Abstract]) OR 2nd[Title/Abstract]) 2.(((pharyng*[Title/Abstract]) OR branch*[Title/Abstract]) OR viscer*[Title/Abstract]) OR branchial region[MeSH Major Topic] 3.((((cleft*[Title/Abstract]) OR groov*[Title/Abstract]) OR pouch*[Title/Abstract]) OR regio*[Title/Abstract]) OR arch*[Title/Abstract] 4.(((((((((((((anomal*[Title/Abstract]) OR malform*[Title/Abstract]) OR defec*[Title/Abstract]) OR deform*[Title/Abstract]) OR cyst*[Title/Abstract]) OR tract*[Title/Abstract]) OR fistu*[Title/Abstract]) OR pit*[Title/Abstract]) OR pouch*[Title/Abstract]) OR leas*[Title/Abstract]) OR lesi*[Title/Abstract]) OR mass*[Title/Abstract]) OR sinus*[Title/Abstract]) OR congenital abnormalities[MeSH Major Topic]
5.((((((((treat*[Title/Abstract]) OR procedur*[Title/Abstract]) OR oper*[Title/Abstract]) OR surg*[Title/Abstract]) OR therap*[Title/Abstract]) OR excis*[Title/Abstract]) OR manag*[Title/Abstract]) OR surgical procedures, Operative[MeSH Major Topic]) OR Surgery[MeSH Subheading] 1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4 AND 5
Embase:
1.second*:ab,ti OR 2nd:ab,ti 2. pharyng*:ab,ti OR branch*:ab,ti OR viscer*:ab,ti OR ’branchial arch’/exp   3. cleft*:ab,ti OR groov*:ab,ti OR pouch*:ab,ti OR regio*:ab,ti OR arch*:ab,ti 4. anomal*:ab,ti OR malform*:ab,ti OR defec*:ab,ti OR deform*:ab,ti OR cyst*:ab,ti OR tract*:ab,ti OR fistu*:ab,ti OR pit*:ab,ti OR leas*:ab,ti OR lesi*:ab,ti OR mass*:ab,ti OR sinus*:ab,ti OR ’congenital disorder’/exp 5. treat*:ab,ti OR procedur*:ab,ti OR oper*:ab,ti OR surg*:ab,ti OR therap*:ab,ti OR excis*:ab,ti OR manag*:ab,ti OR ’surgery’/exp
1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4 AND 5
Cochrane:
  1. Second or 2nd:ti,ab,kw
  2. Pharyng* or branch* or viscer*:ti,ab,kw (Word variations have been searched)
  3. Cleft* or groov* or pouch* or Regio* or arch*:ti,ab,kw (word variations have been searched)
  4. Anomal* or malform* or defec* or deform* or cyst* or tract* or fistu* or pit* or pouch* or leas* or lesi* or mass* or sinus*: ti,ab,kw (word variations have been searched)
  5. Treat* or procedur* or oper* or surg* or therap* or excis* or manag*:ti,ab,kw (Word variations have been searched)
1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4 AND 5
Table 1: Critical Appraisal of Topic