Ultrasonically activated shears versus electrocautery in open gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Use of ultrasonically activated shears (UAS) is gaining popularity in open surgery but without concrete evidence. We conducted a prospectively randomized study to assess the efficacy of ultrasonic dissection in open gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS:

Patients with gastric cancer who were to undergo gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection were enrolled and assigned to either the conventional surgery group (n = 125) or the UAS group (n = 128).

RESULTS:

The mean operating time was significantly reduced in the UAS group (89.3 ± 15.6 min) when compared to the conventional group (97.8 ± 17.2 min; p < 0.001). However, we did not find any significant difference in operative blood loss, the amount of postoperative abdominal drainage, or the rate of postoperative complications between the groups. A multivariate analysis for operating time revealed that the use of UAS, female gender and BMI less than 25 were significantly associated with reduced operating time. The operating time was significantly longer in the conventional group than in the UAS group (B 7.786; 95 % CI 4.103-11.468; p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the use of UAS significantly reduced the operating time, especially in male patients, regardless of the BMI status.

CONCLUSIONS:

The use of UAS in gastrectomy for gastric cancer was a safe and efficient method, especially in terms of reducing operating time for male patients.

• Authors: Min-Gew Choi, Seung Jong Oh, Jae Hyung Noh, Tae Sung Sohn, Sung Kim, Jae Moon Bae
• Journal: Gastric cancer : official journal of the International Gastric Cancer Association and the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association (Gastric Cancer) Vol. 17 Issue 3 Pg. 556-61 ( 2014) ISSN: 1436-3305 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 24048759 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Adult
• Blood Loss, Surgical
• Electrocoagulation (adverse effects, methods)
• Female
• Gastrectomy (adverse effects, methods)
• Humans
• Lymph Node Excision (methods)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Operative Time
• Postoperative Complications (epidemiology)
• Prospective Studies
• Sex Factors
• Stomach Neoplasms (pathology, surgery)
• Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures (adverse effects, methods)