Abstract
Bleeding is a major complication of thyroid surgery. A retrospective study was performed comparing the outcomes of patients undergoing thyroid surgery where bipolar diathermy with standard bipolar forceps was used for vessel ligation (n = 64) compared to clamp-and-tie (n = 89). Fewer drains were inserted and patients were discharged earlier when standard bipolar diathermy was used for vessel ligation in hemithyroidectomies (P < 0.001). Complication rates were similar. The use of bipolar diathermy with standard forceps for vessel ligation in thyroid surgery has been shown to be as safe and effective as the clamp-and-tie technique, while resulting in earlier patient discharge. This technique is cost-efficient as it provides the advantage of reduced inpatient stay reported using bipolar vessel sealing devices or the harmonic scalpel, but without the additional expense.
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Tysome, J.R., Hassan, R. & Davis, J. Standard bipolar diathermy forceps vessel ligation is safe in thyroidectomy. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 266, 1781–1786 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-009-0925-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-009-0925-8