ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effects of ultrasonic scalpel and traditional electrocautery on postoperative complications in axillary dissection for breast cancer treatment.Methods The clinical data of 92 breast cancer patients with axillary dissection were analyzed retrospectively.The surgical proce-dures were randomly chosen by patients,including 37 cases with ultrasonic scalpel and 55 cases with elec-trocautery.Both groups were compared in operation time,number of harvested lymph nodes,postoperative drainage in 24 h,seroma formation rate,and drain removal time.Results There were no significant differ-ences in operation time[(148.2 ±30.4)min vs(143.5 ±40.8)min],number of harvested lymph nodes (17 nodes vs 16 nodes),and drain removal time[(16.0 ±5.3)d vs(16.7 ±4.4)d]between ultrasonic scalpel group and electrocautery group(P >0.05 ).There were significant differences in postoperative drainage [(118.8 ±65.8)ml vs(159.2 ±71.3)ml]and seroma formation rate(8.1% vs 20%)between ultrasonic scalpel group and electrocautery group(P <0.01).Conclusion For breast cancer,ultrasonic scalpel is similar to electrocautery in axillary dissection,but it can reduce postoperative complications.