Cost analysis comparing ultrasonic fundus-first and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy using electrocautery

Background

Costs associated with laparoscopic fundus-first cholecystectomy using ultrasonic dissection versus a conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not been compared.

Methods

Adult patients subjected to elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy between June 2002 and March 2004 were randomized to either an ultrasonic fundus-first dissection or dissection from the triangle of Calot with electrocautery. Differences in direct and indirect costs related to either technique were studied.

Results

The duration of the operation and hospitalization was longer when dissection was with the conventional technique. With the ultrasonic fundus-first technique, the direct cost was 1,190 SEK lower, and the total cost, taking also the cost for sick leave into account, was 5,370 SEK lower.

Conclusions

Both direct and indirect costs are lower with a laparoscopic fundus-first cholecystectomy using ultrasonic dissection than conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy using electrocautery.     

Randomized trial of traditional dissection with electrocautery versus ultrasonic fundus-first dissection in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND: In laparoscopic cholecystectomy dissection can be with monopolar electrocautery or with ultrasonic shears, and can start at the triangle of Calot or at the fundus of the gallbladder. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to electrocautery dissection from the triangle of Calot and 43 to fundus-first dissection with ultrasonic shears. All procedures were strictly standardized, and patients and their postoperative carers were blinded to the operation performed. RESULTS: Ultrasonic fundus-first dissection was associated with a shorter duration of operation (mean 46 versus 61 min), fewer overnight hospital stays (two versus eight), lower pain scores 4 and 24 h after surgery, less nausea at 2, 4 and 24 h, and a shorter period of sick leave (mean 5.5 versus 9.3 days) compared with electrocautery from the triangle of Calot. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonic fundus-first dissection during laparoscopic cholecystectomy was quicker and associated with less nausea and pain than electrocautery dissection from the triangle of Calot.     

A single-blind controlled study of electrocautery and ultrasonic scalpel smoke plumes in laparoscopic surgery

Background  

Surgical smoke containing potentially carcinogenic and irritant chemicals is an inevitable consequence of intraoperative energized dissection. Different energized dissection methods have not been compared directly in human laparoscopic surgery or against commonly encountered pollutants. This study undertook an analysis of carcinogenic and irritant volatile hydrocarbon concentrations in electrocautery and ultrasonic scalpel plumes compared with cigarette smoke and urban city air control samples.     

Electrocautery causes more ischemic peritoneal tissue damage than ultrasonic dissection

Background  

Minimizing peritoneal tissue injury during abdominal surgery has the benefit of reducing postoperative inflammatory response, pain, and adhesion formation. Ultrasonic dissection seems to reduce tissue damage. This study aimed to compare electrocautery and ultrasonic dissection in terms of peritoneal tissue ischemia measured by microdialysis.     

Fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Removal of the gallbladder with commencement of dissection at the fundus is well recognized as a safe technique during difficult open cholecystectomy because it minimizes the risks of damage to the structures in or around Calot's triangle. We report here the routine employment of liver retractors and fundus-first dissection during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) as an alternative to techniques previously described.Retraction of the liver and fundus-first dissection was used in 53 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecytectomy. There were 16 male and 37 female patients. Seven were operations performed during an acute admission and 20 had moderate or severe adhesions involving the gallbladder. Thirteen patients had a preexisting abdominal incision.The procedure was successful in 52 patients (98%), but in one patient it was converted to open operation because of dense adhesions. Median duration of operation was 90 min (range 35–240 min). There was no mortality and two complications (persistent right upper quadrant pain for 2 weeks after operation and bile leakage from the gallbladder bed).The facility to retract the liver and carry out a fundus-first dissection extends techniques developed for open surgery into the laparoscopic arena. It offers the surgeon the safety and versatility during laparoscopic cholecystectomy that it confers during conventional open surgery.Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 18–19 April 1994     

Acute Cholecystitis is an Indication for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Prospective Study

Objective:

Acute cholecystitis has been considered as a relative or absolute contraindication to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The purpose of this study is to present our experience of laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a safe and effective treatment of acute cholecystitis.

Methods:

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was offered to 34 consecutive patients with acute calculous cholecystitis, diagnosed according to strict clinical and ultrasonographic criteria. We used only three trocars. The gallbladder was routinely aspirated and sharp graspers were used. We adopted the fundus-first method of dissection when safe identification of the Calot'' s triangle was difficult. The cystic duct was ligated whenever necessary.

Results:

The procedure was completed in 31 patients. The mean length of the laparoscopic procedure was 43 minutes, their mean hospital stay was 2.8 days. For the open group the mean length of the operative procedure was 66 minutes, while the mean hospital stay was 5.3 days. The overall morbidity rate was low.

Conclusions:

The benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be safely extended to patients with acute cholecystitis. The operation must be done early in the course of the disease. The surgeon should have adequate laparoscopic experience and maintain a low threshold for conversion to open exploration. Modifications in technique should be adopted to achieve a successful outcome.     

Multi-Stream Saline-Jet Dissection Using a Simple Irrigation System Defines Difficult Tissue Planes

Introduction:

Single-stream hydro-jet dissection is increasingly used in various laparoscopic procedures, but its use requires special equipment. We describe a simple method for using an irrigation system for saline-jet tissue dissection as a useful adjunct prior to adhesiolysis.

Material and Methods:

Intraabdominal adhesions prolong laparoscopic procedures, because tissue planes are difficult to identify. We performed multi-jet saline dissection (MSSJ) between 2000 and 2009 in more than 500 patients during laparoscopy involving hernias, gallbladders, appendices, and intestinal obstructions. We use a standard suction irrigation probe, which is attached to a 1-liter saline bag with an inflatable cuff around to create a pressure of 250mm Hg to 300mm Hg. In effect, this is the standard setup generally used for irrigation. After using saline dissection, tissue planes can be better defined and the structures can then be separated.

Result and Discussion:

Using this method, we have successfully identified tissue planes in spite of dense adhesions, and our conversion rates to open have been reduced dramatically. This method is relatively safer than other modalities of tissue dissection, such as diathermy, ultrasonic, blunt or sharp dissection. The disadvantage is that with tissues saturated with saline it becomes more difficult to use diathermy hemostasis. Care has to be exercised in monitoring the temperature and volume of the fluid used.     

Monopolar electrocautery versus ultrasonic dissection of the gallbladder from the gallbladder bed in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Ultrasonic dissection has been suggested as an alternative to monopolar electrocautery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy because it generates less tissue damage and may have a lower incidence of gallbladder perforation. We compared the 2 methods to determine the incidence of gallbladder perforation and its intraoperative consequences.

Methods

We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial between July 2008 and December 2009 involving adult patients with symptomatic gall stone disease who were eligible for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomly assigned before administration of anesthesia to electrocautery or ultrasonic dissection. Both groups were compared for incidence of gallbladder perforation during dissection, bile leak, stones spillage, lens cleaning, duration of surgery and estimation of risk of gall-bladder in the presence of complicating factors.

Results

We included 60 adult patients in our study. The groups were comparable with respect to demographic characteristics, symptomatology, comorbidities, previous abdominal surgeries, preoperative ultrasonography findings and intraoperative complications. The overall incidence of gallbladder perforation was 28.3% (40.0% in the electrocautery v. 16.7% in the ultrasonic dissection group, p = 0.045). Bile leak occurred in 40.0% of patients in the electrocautery group and 16.7% of patients in ultrasonic group (p = 0.045). Lens cleaning time (p = 0.015) and duration of surgery (p = 0.001) were longer in the electrocautery than the ultrasonic dissection group. There was no statistical difference in stone spillage between the groups (p = 0.62).

Conclusion

Ultrasonic dissection is safe and effective, and it improves the operative course of laparoscopic cholecystectomy by reducing the incidence of gallbladder perforation.     

Ultrasonic Scalpel for Gastric Cancer Surgery: a Prospective Randomized Study

Background

The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential advantages of the ultrasonic scalpel compared with the conventional technique in gastric cancer surgery.

Methods

Patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the stomach were randomly assigned to ultrasonic scalpel or conventional technique. We used the HARMONIC FOCUS? (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.) as ultrasonic scalpel.

Results

Between February 2010 and December 2010, 60 patients with resectable gastric cancer were enrolled into the study. Operative time was significantly shorter with the ultrasonic arm than with the conventional arm (median 238.5 vs. 300.5?min; P?=?0.0004). Blood loss was also significantly lower in the ultrasonic arm than in the conventional arm (median 351.0 vs. 569.5?ml; P?=?0.016). Clavien?CDindo grades of postoperative complications were similar in the two groups. From a questionnaire survey of operators, the ultrasonic scalpel significantly reduced the stress of lymph node dissection (3.67 vs. 2.87; P?=?0.0006). However, in assisting surgeons, the contributions to surgery, study, and technical improvement of the ultrasonic group were lower than in the conventional group.

Conclusions

This study shows that the ultrasonic scalpel is a reliable and safe tool for open gastric cancer surgery.     

First experimental results with a new waterjet dissector: Erbejet 2

Background  

Waterjet dissection represents a useful technique for many surgical procedures. In this experimental study, the technical features and dissection qualities of the new Erbejet 2 with its new pump and nozzle applicator system are evaluated for its neurosurgical use compared to the established Helix Hydro-Jet.     

Detection of Melanoma Nodal Metastases; Differences in Detection Between Elderly and Younger Patients Do Not Affect Survival

Background  

Melanoma lymph nodes metastases may be detected by patients or by physicians. Understanding the outcomes of self-detection or physician detection is essential for the design of follow-up studies. We evaluated the role of the method of detection in nodal disease in the prognosis of melanoma patients who underwent therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND).     

Postoperative Adhesion Formation in a Rabbit Model: Monopolar Electrosurgery Versus Ultrasonic Scalpel

Background and Objectives:

To determine if surgery using ultrasonic energy for dissection results in less adhesion formation than monopolar electrosurgical energy in the late (8 weeks) postoperative period.

Methods:

Injuries were induced in rabbits by using ultrasonic energy on one uterine horn and the adjacent pelvic sidewall and using monopolar energy on the opposite side. Eight weeks postoperatively, the rabbits underwent autopsy and clinical and pathologic scoring of adhesions was performed by blinded investigators.

Results:

There was no significant difference in clinical adhesion scores between the two modalities. The mean clinical score for monopolar cautery was 1.00 versus 0.88 for the Harmonic device (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio) (P = .71). Furthermore, there was no significant difference found in the pathologic adhesion scores between the ultrasonic scalpel and monopolar energy. The mean pathologic score for monopolar electrosurgery was 4.35 versus 3.65 for the Harmonic scalpel (P = .30).

Conclusion:

Neither monopolar electrosurgery nor ultrasonic dissection is superior in the prevention of adhesion formation in the late postoperative period.     

Use of a peripheral venous catheter in single-incision laparoscopic surgery

Background  

Getting the critical view in performing single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is challenging. In addition, visibility may be impaired by lens fogging and smoke accumulation in the abdomen produced by electrocautery or ultrasonic devices.     

A Longitudinal Comparison of Arm Morbidity in Stage I–II Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy,Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Followed by Completion Lymph Node Dissection,or Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

Background  

Long-term shoulder and arm function following sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) may surpass that following complete axillary lymph node dissection (CLND) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). We objectively examined the morbidity and compared outcomes after SLNB, SLNB + CLND, and ALND in stage I/II breast cancer patients.     

Patterns of Lymph Node Metastases in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Results from Consecutive Bilateral Cervical Lymph Node Dissection

Background  

In patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the appropriate extent of lymph node dissection has not yet been established due to lack of accurate patterns of lymph node metastases (LNM). The aim of this study was to clarify the LNM pattern in PTC patients based on our institution’s experience with a consistent technique of bilateral neck dissection, and to consider the rational extent of lymph node dissection.     

Therapeutic Surgical Management of Palpable Melanoma Groin Metastases: Superficial or Combined Superficial and Deep Groin Lymph Node Dissection

Background  

Management of patients with clinically detectable lymph node metastasis to the groin is by ilioinguinal or combined superficial and deep groin dissection (CGD) according to most literature, but in practice superficial groin dissection (SGD) only is still performed in some centers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the experience in CGD versus SGD patients in our center.     

Level VI Lymph Node Dissection Does Not Decrease Radioiodine Uptake in Patients Undergoing Radioiodine Ablation for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Background  

In patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer, the incidence of pathologic central compartment lymph node metastases is reported to be approximately 50%. Recently level VI lymph node dissection has been advocated as a means of reducing recurrence rates in these patients, even if there are no clinically apparent nodal metastases. This study investigates whether level VI lymph node dissection decreases the percent radioiodine uptake when patients undergo radioiodine ablation.     

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Papillary Thyroid Cancer: 12 Years of Experience at a Single Institution

Background  

The purpose of this study was to report our experience with sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma, to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the procedure, and to examine its potential utility as a guide for central neck dissection.     

Anterior-entry Abdominoperineal Resection: A Variation in the Method of Perineal Dissection

Background  

For patients with rectal cancer, there is a greater risk of a positive radial margin or local tumor recurrence when an abdominoperineal versus low anterior resection is performed, or when tumors are in an anterior versus nonanterior location. In response, clinical leaders have encouraged perineal dissection in the prone position or in concert with a coccygectomy. We describe anterior-entry abdominoperineal resection, which may minimize the need for such maneuvers and negative patient outcomes.