COMPARISON OF MEAN BLOOD LOSS USING HARMONIC SCALPEL AND MONOPOLAR ELECTROCAUTRY IN MODIFIED RADICAL MASTECTOMY

Blood Loss Using Harmonic Scalpel And Monopolar Electrocautry

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the mean per operative and post operative blood loss using harmonic scalpel and monopolar electrocautry in modified radical mastectomy.
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of surgery PNS Shifa Karachi, from 25th Oct 2011 to 24th Apr 2012.
Material and Methods: A total of 64 patients, undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM) were randomly divided into two groups of 32 patients each, using random numbers table. Dissection in group A was done using Harmonic Scalpel (HS). Group B underwent Monopolar Electrocautry (ME) for dissection and hemostasis. Mean per and post operative blood loss was calculated in milliliters.
Results: Mean per operative and post operative blood loss using harmonic scalpel (group-A) was 121.19 ± 5.63 ml while 603.35 ± 8.04 ml loss was recorded in monopolar electrocautry group (group B). A p-value was calculated as <0.001 which shows a significant difference between both the groups.
Conclusion: The mean per and post operative blood loss using harmonic scalpel is significantly less than using monopolar electrocautry in modified radical mastectomy.
Keywords: Modified radical mastectomy, Monopolar electrocautry, ost operative blood loss,
Harmonic scalpel.Per operative, P