title: Harmonic focus versus electrocautery in axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer: a randomized clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electrocautery has been proven to be associated with prolonged serous drainage that might result in several complications in patients requiring axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer. We proposed that the Harmonic Focus might outperform electrocautery in axillary lymph node dissection, resulting in shorter operative times and reduced postoperative complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-eight women with confirmed T1-3 N1-2 breast cancer were randomly assigned to undergo mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery with axillary dissection by using Harmonic Focus or electrocautery. Sixty-four has surgery with Harmonic Focus (group A) and 64 with electrocautery (group B) by the same surgical team. Operative time, blood loss, total drainage volume and days, incidence of seroma, hematoma, pain score, and flap necrosis were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using Harmonic Focus significantly diminished operative time, blood loss, total drainage volume, days of stay, and visual analogue scale as compared with traditional electrocautery. There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups regarding seroma, hematoma, and flap necrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Axillary lymph node dissection using Harmonic Focus is feasible, safe, and a more comfortable design for the surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Jinan Military General Hospital of PLA, Jinan, People's Republic of China. heqingqing@yeah.net
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Dayong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Luming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ziyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Jixin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D035703:Therapies, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult