Comparison of the Results of Electrocautery and Scalpel Use in Abdominal Midline Incisions

Abstract

Objective: Scalpel is the conventional instrument for laparotomy incisions. Electrocautery, on the other hand, can offer potential advantages such as blood loss, incision time, postoperative pain. In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical results of electrocautery and scalpel in abdominal midline surgical incisions. Method: 146 cases who underwent elective abdominal midline incision between January 2020 – December 2021 were included in the study. The patients were divided into two randomized groups as electrocautery (n: 78) and scalpel (n: 68). The incision dimensions, incision time and blood loss during incision were noted intraoperatively. Postoperative pain and wound infection were recorded. Results: The age and sex distribution was similar in the two groups. Incision time(seconds) in the electrocautery group (35.4±18.1) (57.6±25.3) was significantly shorter compared with the time in the scalpel group(p<0.001).The amount of bleeding was lower in the electrocautery group (p<0.001). Postoperative day 1 VAS score was significantly higher in the scalpel group however, the day 5 VAS score was higher in the electrocautery group (respectively; p<0.013 and p<0.001). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative wound complications (p>0.05). Conclusion: Abdominal midline skin incisions performed by electrocautery are associated with faster and less blood loss compared with the incisions using scalpel. There was no difference between the two methods in terms of postoperative wound complications. The pain score of the scalpel on postoperative day 5 was lower than the pain score of the electrocautery.

Keywords

• : Electrocautery
• scalpel
• midline laparotomy
• skin Incision
• electrosurgery.

Abdominal Orta Hat İnsizyonlarda Elektrokoter ile Bistüri Kullanım Sonuçlarının Karşılaştırılması

Abstract

Amaç: Laparotomi insizyonlarında geleneksel enstrüman bisturidir. Elektrokoter ise kan kaybı, insizyon süresi, postoperatif ağrı gibi potansiyel avantajlar sunabilmektedir. Bu çalışmada abdominal orta hat cerrahi insizyonlarda elektrokoter ile bisturinin klinik sonuçlarını karşılaştırmayı amaçladık. Yöntem: Ocak 2020 – Aralık 2021 tarihleri ​​arasında elektif karın orta hat cilt insizyonu yapılan 146 olgu çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastalar elektrokoter (n:78) ve bistüri (n:68) olmak üzere iki randomize gruba ayrıldı. İnsizyon boyutları, kesi süresi ve kesi sırasındaki kan kaybı intraoperatif olarak kaydedildi. Ameliyat sonrası ağrı ve yara enfeksiyonu kaydedildi. Bulgular: Yaş ve cinsiyet dağılımı iki grupta benzerdi. İnsizyon süresi(sn) elektrokoter grubunda (35,4±18,1) bistüri grubuna (57,6±25,3) göre anlamlı ölçüde daha kısaydı (p<0,001). Kanama miktarı elektrokoter grubunda daha düşüktü (p<0,001). Postoperatif 1. gün VAS skoru, bistüri grubunda anlamlı ölçüde daha yüksek iken 5. gün VAS skoru elektrokoter grubunda daha yüksekti (sırasıyla; p<0,013 ve p<0,001). Postoperatif yara komplikasyonları açısından iki grup arasında fark yoktu (p>0.05). Sonuç: Elektrokoter ile uygulanan abdominal orta cilt insizyonları bisturiye göre daha hızlı ve daha az kan kaybı ile ilişkilidir. Postoperatif yara komplikasyonları açısından iki metod arasında fark yoktur. Bistürinin postoperatif beşinci gün ağrı skoru elektrokotere göre daha düşüktür.

Keywords

• Elektrokoter
• Bistüri
• orta hat insizyon
• cilt insizyonu

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