Comparison of Bipolar Vessel Sealing System versus Suture Ligation in Selective Neck Dissection in Patients with Oral Cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Major head and neck surgery involve dissections close to crucial structures such as nerves and vessels. For this reason, it is very important to use safe instruments for dissection and hemostasis. In a wide variety of surgical procedures, advanced vessel sealing devices are replacing traditional techniques for vessel ligation. Aim: Our study aimed to compare the bipolar vessel sealing system versus suture ligation in selective neck dissection in patients with oral cancer. Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted to compare the outcome of the bipolar vessel sealing system versus suture ligation in selective neck dissection in patients with oral cancer. Out of 40 patients enrolled in the study, 20 patients were in Group A (bipolar vessel sealing system) and 20 patients in Group B (Suture ligation). The outcome measures recorded were blood loss, operating time, duration of hospital stay, pre-operative blood transfusion, Fromme’s surgical field scale, post-operative pain, and drainage volume. Treatment protocol and follow-up protocol were followed and the results were statistically analyzed and discussed. Results: Out of 40 patients, 20 patients had bipolar vessel sealing system and 20 patients had suture ligation. In bipolar vessel sealing system of 20 patients, 12 patients were male and 8 patients were female, mean value of blood loss is 26.84 ± 22.34 ml, operating time is 48.56 ± 5.48 min, duration of hospital stay is 12.92 ± 1.28 days, mean value of post-operative pain in day 0 is 3.5 ± 1, day 1 is 3.1 ± 1, day 2 is 1.8 ± 0.5, and day 3 is 1.1 ± 0.5, and drainage volume (ml) in 24 h is 72.48 ± 28.46, 48 h is 24.57 ± 18.29, and 72 h is 7.24 ± 6.7. In suture ligation of 20 patients, 15 patients were male and 5 patients were female, mean value of blood loss is 39.28 ± 16.44 ml, operating time is 54.22 ± 4.14 min, duration of hospital stay is 13.87 ± 1.42 days, mean value of post-operative pain in day 0 is 4.01 ± 0.9, day 1 is 3.8 ± 1.1, day 2 is 2.4 ± 0.6, and day 3 is 1.6 ± 0.8, and drainage volume (ml) in 24 h is 98.28 ± 36.87, 48 h is 41.28 ± 21.24, and 72 h is 18.29 ± 9.45. Conclusion: Bipolar vessel sealing system is more efficacious in terms of reducing blood loss, operating time, and better surgical field than conventional suture ligation. Thus, bipolar vessel sealing system is more advantageous compared to the traditional techniques, from both a clinical and economic point of view.