Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
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<jats:title>Introduction</jats:title>
<jats:p>LigaSure is an electrothermal bipolar vessel-sealing system shown to decrease blood loss and drainage volume compared to electrocautery in axillary node dissection. This prospective randomised controlled trial aimed to assess whether using LigaSure improved perioperative outcomes when compared with monopolar diathermy alone in performing mastectomy without axillary dissection.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Methods</jats:title>
<jats:p>Mastectomy was performed with the LigaSure device and compared with mastectomy using conventional monopolar diathermy in a prospective randomised trial. Patients were recruited over 39 months and were aged from 33 to 86 years of age. Block randomisation (44 in the Ligasure group and 42 in the diathermy group) was performed. The primary outcome measures include total volume in drain output (ml), time to drain volume less than 30mls in 24 hours and operating time.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Results</jats:title>
<jats:p>Drain output volume was measured to the day the drain yielded less than 30mls in a 24 hour period in both groups (484 mls in the monopolar group v 494 mls in Ligasure group). This time point was also used to calculate time to drain removal in both groups (Monopolar 7.2 days and Ligasure 7.3 days). Drain output volume and number or days to drain removal did not show any significant difference in both groups (p=0.05). The operative time in both groups was similar (106mins in monopolar group and 112.5 mins in LigaSure group).</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title>
<jats:p>Use of the LigaSure device is feasible in performing mastectomy. It is not associated with reduced drain volume or shorter operative time compared with monopolar diathermy.</jats:p>
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