A comparative study between the outcome of using LigaSure® versus suture ligation in thyroid surgery

Abstract

Background: Thyroid surgery is one of the most performed operations; with the high vascularity of the thyroid gland and the importance of hemostasis to the surgical outcome, many surgeons have begun to use energy-based devices to perform thyroid surgical procedures, and numerous studies demonstrated the benefit of these devices. The aim was to compare the use of a vessel sealing device (LigaSure) with suture ligation in perioperative time, hypocalcemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) damage, blood loss after surgery, hematoma formation, and period of the patient. Materials and Methods: In this study, 81 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for different diseases, and divided into two groups corresponding to the hemostasis type: vessel sealing devices (LigaSure) group, and suture ligation group, these groups compared regarding operative time; hypocalcemia, RLN injury, blood loss after surgical procedure, hematoma formation, and period of hospital admissions. Results: The duration of surgery was more significant and shorter in the LigaSure® group 66.57 ± 8.93 min than suture ligation group 86.84 ± 17.5 min with P = 0.0001, with bleeding after surgery, was lesser in LigaSure® patients 52.76 ± 22.8 mL than suture ligation group 95.09 ± 39.91 mL with P = 0.0001; other outcomes (postoperative hematoma formation, injury to recurrent laryngeal nerve, hypocalcemia after surgery, and period of hospital admission), and there was no difference between the two groups mentioned above. Conclusion: The role of the LigaSure instrument in thyroidectomy surgery is to decrease the operative time duration and blood loss after surgery, with no effect on the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve damage, postoperative low serum calcium level, and hematoma formation.