Comparison of Ligasure versus conventional technique for total thyroidectomy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare thyroidectomy by Ligasure™ with conventional technique in terms of mean intra operative blood loss. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Setting: Surgical Unit-I, Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Period: August 2018 to April 2019. Material & Methods: All the patients were admitted through out-patient department. Informed consent was taken. The patients were counseled on expected outcome particularly on cosmesis and possible complications, especially the expectant management of seroma. Clinical examination was done to confirm the diagnosis. Preoperative investigation was carried out in the ward. Patients were divided in 2 groups by lottery method. Group A included patients in which total thyroidectomy was done using Ligasure vessel sealing system. Group B included patients in which total thyroidectomy was done using conventional thread ligation technique. All patients were given general anesthesia. Patients in each group had surgery by respective method. Intraoperative blood loss was measured by weighing the dry gauze preoperatively and soaked gauze post operatively. Difference in weight was given estimated blood loss that was recorded in milliliters. Results: In our study, out of 70 cases, 42.86%(n=15) in Group-A and 34.29%(n=12) in Group-B were between 18-50 years of age whereas 57.14%(n=20) in Group-A and 65.71%(n=23) in Group-B were between 51-70 years of age, mean+sd was calculated as 50.86+7.94 years in Group-A and 53.26+6.57 years in Group-B, 34.29%(n=12) in Group-A and 28.57%(n=10) in Group-B were male whereas 65.71%(n=23) in Group-A and 71.43%(n=25) in Group-B were females, comparison of thyroidectomy by Ligasure™ with conventional technique in terms of mean intra operative blood loss shows that 61.31+4.37 ml in Group-A and 72.11+3.83 ml in Group-B, p value was 0.0001. Conclusion: We concluded that Ligasure™ is significantly better when compared with conventional technique during thyroidectomy in terms of mean intra operative blood loss.