title: Is a vessel-sealing system useful for resection of anterior mediastinal mass?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To valuate if the LigaSure (Valleylab, Boulder, Colorado, United States) vessel-sealing system could reduce operative time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage duration, and hospital stay in patients with anterior mediastinal mass undergoing open resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty consecutive patients having resection of anterior mediastinal mass were randomized into two groups according to whether LigaSure was used (n = 20) or not (n = 20). Tumor size, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, chest tube output and duration, length of hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality were prospectively recorded, then intergroup differences were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were well matched for age, tumor size, pathologic diagnosis, and incidence of complications. LigaSure significantly reduced operative duration (p < 0.0001) compared with the traditional technique but without leading to any significant reduction in intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.2), chest tube output (p = 0.2) and duration (p = 0.2), and length of hospital stay (p = 0.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduced operative time using LigaSure translates into less exposure to general anesthesia, which is particularly important for patients with myasthenia and potentially reducing cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic Disease, Second University of Naples, Thoracic Surgery Unit, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic Disease, Second University of Naples, Thoracic Surgery Unit, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic Disease, Second University of Naples, Thoracic Surgery Unit, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vicidomini
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic Disease, Second University of Naples, Thoracic Surgery Unit, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Second University of Naples, Section of Pathology, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Accardo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013945:Thymoma / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*