title: Electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system in axillary dissection: a prospective randomized clinical study.
abstract: We assessed whether axillary dissection using the electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system (LigaSure) improved perioperative outcome when compared with conventional axillary dissection, in a prospective randomized study of 100 women with breast cancer. Those needing axillary dissection were randomized to the use of LigaSure or to conventional axillary dissection (with 50 patients in each group, all of whom had a closed suction drain in the axilla). The LigaSure patients had less intraoperative blood loss (exceeding 199 mL in 30.8% vs. 69.2%, P < 0.001), quicker axillary dissection (mean 48 vs. 63.2 min, P = 0.004), fewer days of suction drainage (4.3 vs. 5.7 days, P = 0.012), and shorter hospitalization (5.1 vs. 6.5 days, P = 0.021). No difference was found in the rate of hematomas, reoperations or infection. The use of LigaSure in axillary surgery reduced the surgical time and length of hospital stay, favoring early drain removal without increasing postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Breast Cancer Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, E-08035 Barcelona, Spain. tcortade@vhebron.net
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cortadellas
authors.forename: Octavi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Córdoba
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Bravo
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Santin
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Fernández
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esgueva
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Vinuesa
authors.forename: Isabel T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xercavins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013396:Suction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data