Impact of scalpel type on operative time and acute complications in thyroidectomies

IntroductionThyroidectomy is the most common surgery in the cervical region. Currently, several techniques are available for intraoperative hemostasis.ObjectiveTo compare the performance of three techniques (monopolar and bipolar electrical and ultrasonic) on operative time and postoperative complications.MethodsPatients submitted to total thyroidectomy without prior treatment were included in this prospective series study, using a scientific design.ResultsA total of 834 patients were included; 661 women (79.3%) and 173 men (20.7%). The diagnosis was malignant neoplasia in 528 patients (63.3%) and benign disease in 306 patients (36.7%). The monopolar electric scalpel was used in 280 patients (33.6%), bipolar scalpel in 210 patients (25.2%) and ultrasonic scalpel in 344 patients (41.3%). The operative time was significantly shorter with the ultrasonic or bipolar scalpel when compared to the electric scalpel. In a linear regression model, gender, malignancy diagnosis and power energy type were significant for the procedure duration. Patients who underwent surgery with an ultrasound or bipolar scalpel had a significantly lower incidence of hypoparathyroidism.ConclusionThe use of ultrasonic or bipolar scalpel significantly reduces operative time and the incidence of transient hypoparathyroidism.     

Effects of Scalpel,Electrocautery, and CO2 and KTP Lasers on Wound Healing in Rat Tongues

Objective: Evaluate wound healing of incisions created by the scalpel, electrocautery, CO2 laser, and potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser in the upper aerodigestive tract in an animal model. Study Design: Prospective randomized study in an animal model. Methods: Postoperative oral intake, histologic depth of injury, and tensile mechanical strength were measured in rat tongues after creating incisions using a scalpel, electrocautery, CO2 laser, and KTP laser. An unpaired, two-tailed Student's t-test was used to compare results between the experimental groups. Results: Oral intake, indirectly assessed by postoperative weight loss, by the third postoperative day was significantly decreased in the electrocautery (P = 0.004), CO2 laser (P = 0.001), and KTP laser (P = 0.0001) groups as compared with the scalpel group. The depth of the wound healing, as assessed by histologic examination, was successively greater for the scalpel (75 ± 13 μm), electrocautery (110 ± 10 μm), CO2 laser (145 ± 10 μm), and KTP laser (195 ± 23 μm) groups. However, this difference was only statistically significant for the CO2 laser (P = 0.006) and KTP laser (P = 0.01) groups relative to the scalpel group. Wounds created by the KTP laser had the lowest strength (76.5 ± 6.9 kPa) as compared with the CO2 laser (156 ± 28.4 kPa), electrocautery (153 ± 15.7 kPa), and scalpel groups (249 ± 61.8 kPa). This difference was only statistically significant for the KTP laser group (P = 0.02) when compared with the scalpel group. Conclusions: Wounds created in the upper aerodigestive tract of rats by scalpels result in the least postoperative weight loss, tissue destruction, and decrease in tensile strength, whereas wounds created by the KTP laser demonstrated a significantly greater postoperative weight loss, depth of wounding, and decrease in tensile strength.     

超声刀在扁桃体肿瘤切除术中的应用体会

目的 探讨超声刀在扁桃体肿瘤切除术中的应用体会.方法 选择70例成人单侧扁桃体形态异常考虑肿瘤的患者,随机分为超声刀组(35例)和电刀组(35例),记录患者的一般情况、手术时间、术中出血、术后咽痛及并发症等情况,将两组患者的资料进行比较.结果 两组患者男性居多,扁桃体以肥大或增生多见,且多为Ⅱ°大小.两组患者术后病理均...     

Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy versus monopolar diathermy tonsillectomy: a prospective study

For tonsillectomy, the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel has been purported to cause less tissue injury and postoperative morbidity while providing adequate levels of hemostasis. We undertook a prospective study to compare outcomes in 162 patients who had undergone harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy and 40 patients who had undergone monopolar diathermy tonsillectomy over a 33-month period. We found that patients in the harmonic scalpel group experienced significantly less intraoperative bleeding (5.0 vs. 16.5 ml; p < 0.0001). There was no clinically significant difference between the groups with respect to (1) the amount of operating time, (2) the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, dysphonia, and primary or secondary bleeding, and (3) the amount of time patients needed to resume normal diet and activities.     

Comparison of tensile strength in CO2 laser and scalpel skin incisions

Skin wounds created by the CO2 laser and the scalpel were evaluated to serially compare tensile strength. The tensile strength of paired skin incisions on the backs of two pigs was measured for 12 weeks. Laser wounds were weaker than scalpel wounds during the initial three weeks after the incision. Subsequent measurements disclosed that both wounds increased in strength at a similar rate. Maximal strength occurred for both wounds at 84 days after wounding. The maximal tensile strength for the scalpel wound was the same for one laser incision and less for the other. This difference may be related to the thermal damage at the edge of the laser wound with resultant delay in the initial phases of wound healing. Ongoing histologic and biochemical analyses will hopefully provide additional information about these differences.     

Wound healing and the Shaw scalpel

The Shaw heated scalpel is now widely used in head and neck surgery because it provides better hemostasis intraoperatively. Concerns persist over the immediate and long-term effects of this instrument on wound healing. This study compares heated and unheated Shaw scalpel incisions in the skin of 7-week-old piglets. Tensile strength measurements and histologic evaluations were made at frequent intervals up to nine weeks after incision. Histologic studies showed no differences in the two groups at any time in the study. Tensile strength of wounds was significantly less two weeks after incision in the Shaw scalpel group, but following that time, the wounds increased in strength, and by seven weeks, the two groups were equal in this respect. Thus, we conclude that the Shaw scalpel wounds in pigs are, ultimately, similar to standard scalpel wounds, although there is a period of diminished tensile strength.     

Preliminary results for superficial parotidectomy using the ultrasonically activated scalpel (Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel)

BACKGROUND: The high density of blood vessels in the parotid gland, the direct vicinity to the facial nerve and the narrow surgical situs require efficient intra- and postoperative hemostasis. The ultrasonic scalpel (US) accomplishes both tissue dissection and vessel coagulation simultaneously by an ultrasonically activated shear movement of 55 500 Hz. The combination of hemostasis and tissue dissection particularly qualifies US for use in surgery of the parotid gland. Until now, there have been no published studies about application of US in surgery of the parotid gland. METHOD: 20 patients with benign parotid tumors treated with a conventional technique of superficial parotidectomy and 20 patients with a superficial parotidectomy using the ultrasonically activated scalpel were examined in regard to intra- and postoperative hemostasis, wound healing and postoperative pain. Also, the quality of the histopathological specimen obtained by US was evaluated. RESULTS: In 85 % (17/20) of superficial parotidectomy efficient intraoperative hemostasis did not require electrocoagulation. In 15 % (3/20) of parotid tumors additional bipolar electrocoagulation were required because of venous bleeding from vessels exceeding 2.0 mm in diameter. Postoperative bleeding did not occur at all. Wound healing was uneventful in all cases. Surgery-related postoperative pain was not intensified. Time of operation was shortened. Histopathological evaluation, especially in the margin area, was not impaired. CONCLUSION: The US offers tissue dissection with effective intra- and postoperative hemostasis. The combination of simultaneous tissue dissection and hemostasis enables a good overall view and control of the surgical site. In addition, based on the mechanical function the US has only a minimal thermal effect on neighboring tissues and enables controlled tumor resection without damaging the facial nerve.     

The ultrasonically activated scalpel versus bipolar diathermy for tonsillectomy: a prospective, randomized trial

Among patients undergoing tonsillectomy, the ultrasonic scalpel has been reported to lead to less intraoperative blood loss than cold dissection, and less postoperative pain and faster recovery than monopolar electrocautery. However, the ultrasonic scalpel has not been compared with bipolar diathermy. The present study was a prospective, randomized, single-blind trial, comparing these two techniques with respect to postoperative pain. Twenty-one adults underwent tonsillectomy on one side using the ultrasonic scalpel, and on the other using bipolar diathermy. Pain scores were obtained on postoperative days 1, 2, 7 and week 3. There was no difference between the two treatments at any of the time points (P = 0.6047, 0.4018, 0.6047 and 0.5000, respectively). Inability to control bleeding with the ultrasonic scalpel resulted in the rescue use of an alternative technique of haemostasis in 14 cases. We conclude that the use of the ultrasonic scalpel in adult tonsillectomy is likely to be limited by its substantial costs and difficulties with haemostasis.     

Surgical treatment of rhinophyma with the ultrasonic scalpel (Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel)

BACKGROUND: There are multiple surgical approaches to the treatment of rhinophyma. Because of the exceptional vascularity of the nose, traditional surgical approaches to the management of rhinophyma are fraught with persistent intraoperative hemorrhage. Hemorrhage that is controlled with electrocautery or laser by a combination of excision of rhinophymatous tissue and simultaneous hemostasis invariably damages cartilage by thermal injury. The UltraCision Harmonic Scalpel achieved a tissue dissection with a simultaneous hemostasis and only minimal thermal tissue injury. To this date, in Europe no studies have been published on the use of the Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel in the surgical treatment of rhinophyma. PATIENTS AND TREATMENT: 6 patients had surgical treatment of rhinophyma with the UltraCision Harmonic Scalpel. The objective of the study was therefore to analyse the handling indication, the efficiency of intra- and postoperative hemostasis, the wound healing, the postoperative pain and the histologic results of tissue resections. RESULTS: Because of the effective intraoperative hemostasis supplementary hemostasis was not required in any examined patient. The efficient hemostasis and the tactile experience of the UltraCision Harmonic Scalpel enabled an accurate sculpting of the nose. Postoperative pain sensation was minimal. Wound healing was uneventful in all cases. Postoperative reepithelialization occurred within 28 days. Delayed complications like scarring did not occur within a median follow - up of 13 month. Histopathological evaluation was possible in all cases. CONCLUSION: The UltraCision Harmonic Scalpel offers a surgical treatment of rhinophyma with efficacious intra- and postoperative hemostasis. The combination of simultaneous tissue dissection and hemostasis enables a good overall view and control of the surgical site. Based on its mechanical function, the UltraCision Harmonic Scalpel has only a little thermal effect on neighbouring tissues and a good tactile experience that enables a controlled tissue resection. The UltraCision Harmonic Scalpel combines the advantages of tissue dissection and simultaneous hemostasis with the controlled handling of the traditional scalpel in rhinophyma surgery.     

支撑喉镜下超声刀无气管切开水平部分喉切除术

会厌癌是最常见声门上型喉癌之一,约占喉部恶性肿瘤的25%,近年来略有增长,且男性发病率远高于女性。会厌癌可局限于会厌或侵及杓会厌襞者、咽会厌皱襞,向下可侵及室带等。大多采用开放的声门上喉部分切除术治疗或支撑喉镜下CO2激光切除等外科手术方法,需行气管切开。本文报道支撑喉镜下超声刀手术切除治疗会厌癌(Epiglottis carcinoma)1例,行双侧颈部淋巴结清扫但未行气切。总结超声刀的手术技巧及优点,并结合文献进行讨论。     

Harmonic scalpel versus conventional tonsillectomy: a double-blind clinical trial

We conducted a prospective, double-blind clinical trial to evaluate the differences in operating time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain at 3 hours and 1 week, and delayed (>24 hr) bleeding associated with ultrasonic harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy and conventional tonsillectomy. The study was carried out on 28 patients with recurrent tonsillitis and/or adenotonsillar hypertrophy who underwent harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy on one side and cold dissection tonsillectomy with suction electrocautery hemostasis on the other. The harmonic scalpel was associated with significantly less intraoperative blood loss (mean: 6.2 vs. 58.8 ml; p < 0.0001) and less early (3 hr) postoperative pain as determined by scores on a 10-point visual analog scale (mean: 3.5 vs. 4.4; p = 0.0042); although the difference in early pain scores is statistically significant, it is probably not clinically significant. Pain scores at 1 week were nearly identical (mean: 2.7 vs. 2.6; p = 0.9246). The length of operating time was similar (mean: 10.9 vs. 7.7 min; p = 0.0022). An unanticipated finding was the fact that delayed bleeding, which occurred in 3 patients (10.7%), occurred only on the harmonic scalpel side. We conclude that the only clearly demonstrable advantage that the harmonic scalpel had over cold dissection was that it caused less intraoperative blood loss.     

Harmonic scalpel versus bipolar tonsillectomy: a double-blind clinical trial

This is a double bind clinical trial which evaluated harmonic scalpel versus bipolar diathermy tonsillectomy The study was conducted at Diyarbakir government hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. The study population comprised 144 patients, aged 4–18 years (mean 9 years  ± 4.12 SD). All patients underwent tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. The indications for tonsillectomy were obstructive sleep apnea (84 patients [58.3%]) and chronic tonsillitis (60 patients [41.7%]). All 144 patients were randomly divided into two groups: bipolar dissection (81 patients [56.2%] with mean age 8.98 years ± 4.22) and harmonic scalpel (63 patients [43.8%] with mean age 9 years ± 4.02). BD group showed statistically significantly less intraoperative bleeding (< 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference on postoperative day 1 but a statistically significant difference was determined on postoperative days 4, 7 and 14. There was no statistically significant difference between the two techniques with regard to immediate and delayed bleeding. The mean operative time was the same in both the groups. Bipolar dissection group showed statistically significant less intraoperative bleeding than harmonic scalpel group. An analysis of postoperative pain scores showed that the harmonic scalpel group pain scores are lower than the bipolar dissection group on all recorded days, and no statistically significant complications was seen in both groups. The results of this study indicate that the HS technique is associated with lower pain scores with the same complication rates as the BD technique.     

Cochlear implant integrity after adenoidectomy with Coblation and monopolar electrosurgery

PURPOSE: Conventional electrosurgical adenoidectomy has been deemed contraindicated in subjects with cochlear implants (CIs) because of risk to the CI and the auditory neurons. No published studies have evaluated the safety of electrosurgical adenoidectomy techniques with CIs. The goal of this study was to compare the impact of monopolar electrosurgery and Coblation radiofrequency bipolar electrosurgery on CI integrity. METHODS: Twelve fresh, cadaveric pigs received unilateral CIs, then the nasopharynx was treated for 15 to 30 minutes with continuous monopolar electrosurgery or Coblation. CIs were tested by the manufacturer for device integrity before and after treatment. RESULTS: Integrity was maintained in all CIs treated with either monopolar or Coblation electrosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although the safety of electrosurgical adenoidectomy after CI placement remains unproven, these observations suggest that judicious use of conventional monopolar and Coblation electrosurgery in adenoidectomy does not convey a serious risk to CI integrity. Theoretical considerations favor the use of Coblation over monopolar electrosurgery in CI recipients.     

鼻内镜辅助超声刀扁桃体切除术(附31例报告)

目的:探讨超声刀实施扁桃体切除术的可行性.方法:鼻内镜直视下放大,采用超声刀行扁桃体切除术31例,并与同期常规扁桃体剥离术比较,观察术中出血量、手术时间、术后疼痛程度、炎性肿胀范围、住院天数.结果:超声刀组各项观察指标均明显优于常规手术组,术中出血量、手术时间比较,均差异有统计学意义(均P<0.01).结论:超声刀在扁桃体切除术中的应用是安全、有效、可行的,在耳鼻咽喉手术中具有良好的应用前景.     

Intracapsular vs. extracapsular tonsillectomy: a comparison of pain

OBJECTIVE: To measure differences in postoperative pain in children undergoing intracapsular tonsillectomy vs. extracapsular tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial carried out at a tertiary children's hospital over 1 year. METHODS: The study included 43 patients age 5 to 19 years with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, 27 undergoing extracapsular tonsillectomy and 16 undergoing intracapsular tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy was performed in either an intracapsular or extracapsular fashion using bipolar electrosurgical scissors and monopolar suction cautery for hemostasis. Residents under faculty supervision performed all operations. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale through postoperative day 10. The patients recorded in a standardized diary pain scores and analgesic use. The main outcome measure was postoperative pain as measured by the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale. The quantity of postoperative pain medicine consumed was a secondary outcome measure. RESULTS: Average postoperative pain for extracapsular tonsillectomy was 5.21 on a 10-point scale versus 2.75 for intracapsular tonsillectomy (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Intracapsular tonsillectomy with bipolar scissors results in less postoperative pain than extracapsular tonsillectomy with bipolar scissors in children age 5 to 19 years.     

Ultrasonic tonsillectomy.

High-frequency ultrasound is an effective mechanism for cutting and coagulating tissue. It is widely used in laparoscopic surgery and may have advantages in tonsillectomy. Twenty-five consecutive cases of tonsillectomy were performed using an ultrasonic scalpel; these were compared with a similar previous consecutive group performed by conventional cold dissection and monopolar electrocautery. There was no undue primary bleeding in either group and no immediate or late postoperative bleeding. Since adenoidectomy was often performed and the total blood loss in each group was so small, no statistical difference could be determined between the groups. No complications were noted in either group. The ultrasonic scalpel has the potential to produce a bloodless tonsillectomy and less collateral tissue damage and is easy to use. There may be less postoperative pain, although this could not be shown statistically in this retrospective study. Ultrasonic tonsillectomy appears to be a safe, and possibly a superior, method of performing this common operation.     

Thermal Injury Patterns and Tensile Strength of Canine Oral Mucosa After Carbon Dioxide Laser Incisions

The amount of collateral damage in laser surgery is affected by the precision of the beam delivery. To test a new control system, the authors of this study produced surgical incisions in the canine oral mucosa and then documented histologic and tensile strength changes during the wound healing process. The incisions were made by three different methods: scalpel, manually controlled carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser, and computer-controlled CO₂ laser. Both types of laser incisions took longer to heal than the scalpel incisions. The laser incisons were accompanied by a zone of thermal damage lateral to the incision. With the computer-controlled laser incision, the area of thermal damage was reduced, the laserinduced delay in wound healing was less, and tensile strength was relatively greater. The data indicate that surgical performance is improved by critical beam control. Laryngoscope, 106:845-850, 1996     

A prospective randomised single blinded study comparing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy with bipolar tonsillectomy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in pain, analgesic use and bleeding in children after tonsillectomy using either a harmonic scalpel or a bipolar diathermy surgical technique. METHODS: Children 6-15 years presenting for tonsillectomy were randomised to either a harmonic scalpel or bipolar diathermy surgical technique. Post-operative pain scores (VAS, 0-10) were recorded within 30 min of surgery and again at the 4h hospital discharge. A subsequent telephone interview daily for 7 days and then every second day until day 13 was used to monitor pain scores, analgesic use and tonsil bed bleeding. RESULTS: There were 204 children studied. The response rate over the first 7 days was 93% for the children in the harmonic scalpel group and 87% for the bipolar group. Children experienced moderate post-operative pain for the first 6 days, after which pain declined from 4-7 to reach a score of 1-2 by day 11. Children undergoing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy (n=103) reported higher mean pain scores than those who underwent bipolar diathermy (n=101) for current pain (4.7 versus 4.2, p=0.002), worst pain of the day (6.9 versus 6.2, p<0.001) and pain on swallowing (5.9 versus 5.2, p<0.001) over the first 6 post-operative days. Analgesic use (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) was similar in both groups. Hospital readmission for bleeding in children who underwent harmonic scalpel was similar to those who underwent bipolar diathermy tonsillectomy (9% versus 11%) as was bleeding requiring surgical re-exploration (4% versus 2%). CONCLUSIONS: Tonsillectomy was associated with considerable pain for the first 6 post-operative days. Children undergoing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy had a slight increase in pain compared to the bipolar diathermy group during this time. Both methods of tonsillectomy are effective and safe.     

超声刀在治疗儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征中的应用

目的 探讨超声刀辅助下手术治疗儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)的可行性。方法 将38例入选儿童OSAHS患者分为A、B两组,A组(18例)用超声刀辅助下手术,B组(20例)采用传统方法手术,对术中出血量、手术时间、术后疼痛程度、术后伤口愈合情况及术后出血等几个方面进行对照观察研究。结果 术中出血量、手术时间及术后出血概率超声刀组较传统手术组明显减少,差异有统计学意义。超声刀术组与传统手术组在创面白膜生成及脱落时间、术后切口生长情况及术后疼痛方面差异无统计学意义。结论 超声刀辅助手术治疗儿童OSAHS具有微创、安全及可行性等特点,是一种治疗儿童OSAHS较好的方法。     

支撑喉镜下超声刀切除会厌囊肿的临床体会

目的探讨支撑喉镜下超声刀切除会厌囊肿的麻醉方法、手术效果,总结经验及体会。方法回顾性分析2013年1月～2015年1月诊治的42例会厌囊肿患者的临床资料,所有患者均全身麻醉下采用超声刀切除会厌囊肿,术后随访1年,行电子喉镜检查进行疗效评价。结果41例患者均达到治愈,1例出现会厌萎缩。结论超声刀切除会厌囊肿出血少,视野清晰,手术时间短,但术中操作应仔细,避免大面积热损伤而出现术后患者疼痛、会厌萎缩的可能。