title: Major complications in thyroid surgery: utility of bipolar vessel sealing (Ligasure Precise).
abstract: In the present study the Authors tried and assess the advantages of the standard sutureless thyroidectomy performed by the Ligasure Vessel Sealing System, thanks to the use of the dedicated Precise handle. The Authors compared the efficacy of haemostasis and the economical impact of the device, in terms of drug administration and costs. The Authors comparatively analyzed 120 total extracapsular thyroidectomies (TET) performed by the standard operative technique (Group A, control) and 70 TET achieved by the "sutureless technique" (Group B, case). There was a statistically significant decrease of transient postoperative hypocalcemia (5.71% vs 7.5%) and also of mean operative time (about 20 minutes) in patients of the group B. Non significant decrease of other kind of complications (postoperative hemorrhage, transient and permanent inferior laryngeal palsy, stupor of the superior laryngeal nerve, seromas) were also observed. The use of the Ligasure Precise resulted easy, safe and efficient in the Authors' experience. It allowed the decrease of postoperative haemorrhages and mean operative time.
authors.affiliation: V Divisione di Chirurgia Generale e Techniche Chirurgiche Speciali, Dipartimento de Scienze Anestesiologiche, Chirurgiche e delle Emergenze, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Parmeggiani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Avenia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Falco
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parmeggiani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pisaniello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: d'Ajello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monacelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calzolari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanguinetti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sperlongano
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D013537:Sutures / Q000191:economics; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome