title: BiClamp forceps significantly shorten the operation time for breast surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A novel approach was introduced for breast surgery using the BiClamp, a new bipolar thermal energy device, to avoid complications and to shorten the time required for the dissection of the axillary lymph nodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with early breast cancer were assessed. The surgical parameters were compared between the procedures performed using the BiClamp technique (n = 14) and conventional surgery with suture ligation (n = 22). The parameters included the operation time, blood loss, and discharge on the first postoperative day. In addition, each of those parameters was compared between the patients with a high body mass index (BMI) (>22) and a low BMI (< or =22). The sealed vessels were examined histologically and heat-associated morphological vessel wall alterations were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operation time was significantly shorter in the BiClamp group than in the control group (P = 0.017, 90 +/- 18 vs 115 +/- 33 min). In addition, the blood loss in the BiClamp group tended to be smaller than in the control group, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.54, 61 +/- 47 vs 74 +/- 67 g). No other parameters showed any significant differences between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BiClamp thermofusion technique was safe and useful in breast surgery involving axillary dissection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Oncology, Saitama Medical University, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shigekawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamiya
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Misono
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misumi
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Nobuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujiuchi
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osaki
authors.forename: Takaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koyama
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome