Update on sutureless thyroidectomy

Abstract

introduction. The Harmonic scalpel (“Focus“ and the new version “Focus+”) is one of the first devices for surgical simultaneous cutting and tissue coagulation which allows to obtain dissection and hemostasis by direct application of ultrasound and allows minimally invasive surgical procedures with minimal lateral thermal spread and, thus, minimal adjacent tissue destruction. The aim of the study is to complete the previous study that we made in 2014, based on the TT performed between January 2008 and December 2013, with new data about TT performed in our Surgical Division between January 2014 and December 2016 and compare the outcome using the Ultrasonic scalpel versus the device Ligasure in term of safety, operative time, overall drainage volume, complications, hospital stay. Patients and methods. 250 patients were randomized into two groups: Group A where Ultracision were used and Group B where the Ligasure device was used. results. The results of the group A and of the Group B 2014-2016 have been compared with the results of the previous study and we found that they are similar, but asymptomatic hypocalcaemia increased in the patients of the new study. Conclusions. We found that the use of Ultrasonic scalpel and Ligasure is effective both in the hemostasis of all vessels and in dissection of tissuesnnand confirm the results of our first study without significant difference in the rate of post-operative morbidity with these two different energy based devices used.