ABSTRACT
Introduction: LigcaSure [Valley Lab, CO, USA] is a bipolar diathermy system that seals vessels with reduced thermal spread. The device has been used successfully in abdominal surgery and has been introduced as a new method for haemostasis during thyroidectomy. This study compares the efficacy and advantages of LigaSure, when used for thyroidectomy in benign nodular thyroid disease, with the conventional clamp-and-tie technique
Methods: 60 patients underwent total thyroidectomy [30 with the conventional clamp-and-tie technique and 30 with LigaSure]. The main outcomes measured were age, sex, operating time, postoperative hypocalcaemia, recurrent laryngeal and nerve palsy, statistical analysis consisted of the chi-squared test and Student's t-test
Results: The mean operating time was significantly shorter in the LigaSure group [115.00 +/- 13.20 vs 88.83 +/- 11. 50 minutes; P=0.00]. Bleeding during surgery was significantly lower in the LigaSure group [118 +/- 15.33 ml vs. 69. 17:11:15 ml P=0.0]. There were no significant differences between the study groups in terms of postoperative hypo-parathyroidism or recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy
Conclusion: The LigciSure vessel sealer is a safe, effective alternative for thyroid surgery that reduces the overall operating time and operative blood loss, however, its higher cost is a significant limiting factor for its use in surgery