title: Use of the vessel sealing system in tracheostomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tracheostomy is a frequent, and at times semiurgent, surgical procedure. It is performed in close proximity to the thyroid gland, and in many cases requires division of its isthmus, putting a patient in danger of significant bleeding.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine prospectively the feasibility of vessel sealing in tracheostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A vessel-seating device was used in 24 consecutive patients undergoing tracheostomy. There were no exclusion criteria for enrolling the patients. No other hemostatic technique was used for dividing the isthmus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no bleeding events throughout the postoperative period. The operating time saving was 5-10 minutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the vessel sealer was found to be straightforward, efficacious, rapid and safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. arkadiyak@gmail.com
authors.forename: Arkadi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yakirevitch
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nakache
authors.forename: Noga
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lipschitz
authors.forename: Eran E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Alon
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Yoav P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Talmi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000639:trends*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome