Randomised controlled trial of LigaSure versus conventional suture ligature for abdominal hysterectomy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of LigaSure with conventional suture ligature in abdominal hysterectomy. DESIGN: Pilot randomised controlled unblinded trial with block randomisation according to three operating surgeons. SETTING: One Norwegian teaching hospital, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. SAMPLE: Thirty women who underwent total or subtotal abdominal hysterectomy. METHODS: Data, with regard to operation time expenditure and the occurrence of peri- and post-operative complications, were collected and compared between the two techniques. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Operation time, peri- and post-operative complications. RESULTS: Mean operation duration was 61.7 minutes with LigaSure and 54.5 minutes with conventional suture ligature. The corresponding operative blood loss was 303 and 298 mL, respectively. Occurrence of complications was few and not significantly different between the two techniques. Mean hospital stay was longer following LigaSure operations (10 vs 6 days), probably due to a certain age imbalance between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitation of this pilot study, we did not uncover a time sparing effect from the use of LigaSure or any difference in the occurrence of blood loss and complications.