title: Efficacy and safety of ultrasonically activated shears in thyroid surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonically activated shears (UAS) in hemostasis as well as its safety in regard to complications in thyroid surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred patients who had undergone surgery on the thyroid gland were divided into 2 groups of 150 patients each. Hemostasis as well as division of blood vessels and thyroid tissue were performed with the use of UAS in the first group and by conventional ligations in the second group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of UAS resulted in as much as a 39.7% reduction in the operative time of the total thyroidectomy and a 30.8% reduction of the lobectomy (p < .001). However, there was no important difference in the postoperative blood loss in either the temporary hypoparathyroidism or the paresis of recurrent laryngeal nerves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of UAS in thyroid surgery is a safe method for hemostasis, as well as for the division of blood vessels and thyroid tissue. It leads to the reduction of the total operative time without serious complications.
authors.affiliation: Second Surgical Propedeutical Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippocration General Hospital, 61 M. Alexandrou Ave. Thessaloniki, Greece GR-54645. dkarv@med.auth.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Karvounaris
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antonopoulos
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Psarras
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakadamis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy