title: Comparison of the ultrasonic scalpel to CO(2) laser in cervical conization.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of CO(2) laser with that of ultrasonic scalpel in cervical conization in terms of intraoperative and postoperative outcome. One-hundred and two patients were submitted to cervical conization by ultrasonically activated scalpel, while 97 patients were submitted to cervical conization by use of CO(2) laser. Comparison of mean estimated blood loss, mean operative time and mean cone volume between the two groups was performed with Student t test. Postoperative complications were compared by x(2) test. There was no statistical significance regarding the mean operating time, mean blood loss, mean cone volume and postoperative complications in the two methods. However, thermal artifacts at the cone margins were minimal in the harmonic group (2/102 cones, 1.96%), while in the laser group they were considerably more (18/97 cones, 18.5%) (p < 0.05). Conization using the harmonic scalpel is as safe and effective as the CO(2) laser procedure. It is cheaper, produces less smoke, better visual field and less thermal artifacts in the cone margins. It is a reliable method that overcomes most problems associated with the CO(2) laser, as well as the other conventional conization procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Theageneion Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kartsiounis
authors.forename: Nikoleta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koutlaki
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evaggelinos
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skafida
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kafetzis
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kartsiounis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dinas
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dimitraki
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liberis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019092:Conization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*