Total thyroidectomy with ultrasonic scalpel: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
The ultrasonic scalpel is a recently introduced device in head and neck surgery. Total thyroidectomy is the most common endocrine procedure performed by surgeons.


METHODS
This was an open, phase IV, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compared the use of an ultrasonic scalpel with a conventional technique in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy. The outcomes were surgical complication rate, operative time, drainage volume, postoperative pain, and costs.


RESULTS
In all, 261 patients were included in 11 centers. There was a mean difference of 17% of operative time in favor of the ultrasonic scalpel group. There were no differences in postoperative complications. There was a difference in costs of 14% in favor of the ultrasonic scalpel group, but it was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of an ultrasonic scalpel was as safe as that of the conventional technique and had the advantage of a shorter operative time and lower postoperative drainage. Costs were not different between groups.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital AC Camargo, São Paulo, Brazil. lp_kowalski@uol.com.br
Luiz P
LP
Kowalski
Alvaro
A
Sanabria
José Guilherme
JG
Vartanian
Roberto Araujo
RA
Lima
Ullianov Bezerra Toscano
UB
de Mendonca
Carlos Roberto
CR
dos Santos
Domingos
D
Boldrini
Luis Eduardo Barbalho
LE
de Mello
Fernando Paiva
FP
Pinto
Carlos Neutzling
CN
Lehn
Luiz Artur Costa
LA
Correa
Rogério A
RA
Dedivitis
André Vicente
AV
Guimarães
Paola Andrea Galbiatti
PA
Pedruzzi
Gyl Henrique Albrecht
GH
Ramos
Antonio José
AJ
Gonçalves
Alexandre Babá
AB
Suehara
Jossi Ledo
JL
Kanda
Renato de Castro
Rde C
Capuzzo
José Carlos
JC
de Oliveira
Maria Paula
MP
Curado
José Francisco
JF
de Góis Filho
Erica
E
Fukuyama
Ivo Marquis
IM
Beserra
Paulo Bentes
PB
de Carvalho Neto
André Lopes
AL
Carvalho
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D059708:Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*