Objective:This prospective study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of
thyroidectomy using Ultrasonically Activated Scalpel (UAS) in comparison to the
conventional thyroidectomy.
Patients and Methods: This study comprised 40 patients with mean age 41.4±9 years,
divided into two groups: Group A comprised 25 patients underwent thyroidectomy using
UAS and 15 patients underwent conventional thyroidectomy (Group B). Both groups
were compared as regards operating time, operative blood loss (=weight of wet spongesweight
of dry sponges), postoperative seroma formation and surgeons' satisfaction
regarding the ease of dissection, need of blood vessel ligation and dryness of the surgical
field.
Results: Mean operative time was significantly shorter in group A (77±5.8 minutes)
compared to group B, (105.7±6.5 minutes) especially in cases with primary
thyrotoxicosis and cancer thyroid. Intraoperative blood loss showed a significant
(I)<0.05) reduction in group A, (85±5.4 gm) compared to group B (I25.3±7.8 gm). There
was a positive significant correlation between the reduction of intraoperative blood loss
and operating time in both groups despite being more significant in group B. Mean total
surgeons' satisfaction scores showed a significant difference in favor of satisfaction by
using UAS.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that the use of Ultrasonically Activated Scalpel for
thyroidectomy is feasible and could minimize intraoperative bleeding with shorter
duration of surgery and had achieved significant surgeons' satisfaction . -
Keywords: Ultrasonically Activated Scalpel , thyroidectomy . |
