LigaSure versus conventional dissection technique in pancreatoduodenectomy: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic surgery requires extensive preparation and tissue dissection. Therefore, LigaSure (Valleylab, Boulder, CO) provides an alternative to conventional dissection techniques. The aim of the present study was to describe the feasibility, safety, and cost efficiency of LigaSure in pancreatoduodenectomy.


METHODS
Seven patients underwent surgery with the Ligasure and 7 patients underwent surgery with conventional dissection techniques. The patients were investigated for surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, mortality, duration of hospital stay, and surgery-related costs.


RESULTS
Surgical time was 207 minutes in the LigaSure group and 255 minutes in the conventional group (P = .020). Intraoperative blood loss was 271 and 771 mL, respectively (P = .010). Other perioperative outcomes were comparable. The respective surgery-related costs averaged €4,125 and €4,931 (P = .023).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of LigaSure in pancreatoduodenectomy seems to be feasible and safe. In addition, it might lead to a reduction in the surgery-related costs.
Gehrig
Tobias
T
Department of General, Abdominal and Transplant Surgery, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Müller-Stich
Beat P
BP
Kenngott
Hannes
H
Fischer
Lars
L
Mehrabi
Arianeb
A
Büchler
Markus W
MW
Gutt
Carsten N
CN
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome