title: Effectiveness of using ultrasonically activated scalpel in combination with radiofrequency dissecting sealer or irrigation bipolar for hepatic resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many kinds of transection devices have been developed but there are very few reports on the effectiveness of using ultrasonically activated scalpel with a hook blade in combination with a thermo-coagulating device for hepatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 533 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy for primary disease and for living- related liver transplantation (LRLT) donors preformed using ultrasonically activated scalpel with a hook blade along with a saline-linked radiofrequency dissecting sealer (TL group, n=215) or bipolar cautery with a saline-irrigation system (IB group, n=318). Intraoperative blood loss, operative time, postoperative laboratory data collected over a week and the incidence of postoperative complications were analyzed in accordance with the pre-existing liver conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median operative time required to perform partial hepatectomy and hemihepatectomy in liver tumor cases was found to be significantly shorter in the TL group than in the IB group. There was no significant difference in the amount of blood loss between the 2 groups. Postoperative laboratory data was favorable and the overall complication rate after hepatectomy was 9.01%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasonically activated scalpel with a hook blade used in combination with a thermo-coagulation device yielded favorable intra and postoperative outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medinice, Sapporo, Japan. hi-yokoo@mua.biglobe.ne.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoo
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamiyama
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Munenori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tahara
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fukumori
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamachi
authors.forename: Michiaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Todo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059708:Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult