title: Usefulness of harmonic focus during axillary lymph node dissection: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Axillary node dissection (ALND) is affected by various complications, (hematoma, seroma, lymphocele, infections). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Harmonic Focus (HF) in reducing these complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  92 patients requiring ALND, were divided into two group: Group A (HF) (33 women, 14 men), and Group B (control) (28 women, 17 men).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operating time was lower in Group A than in Group B. The amount of drain volume was lower in Group A than in Group B, the drain was removed earlier in Group A than in Group B. Seroma incidence was lower in Group A than in Group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of HF during ALND is effective in reducing operating time, drain volume and complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery P. Valdoni, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. giuseppe.cavallaro@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polistena
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Ermo
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pedullà
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Avenia
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Toma
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*