Non-clip laparoscopic colectomy using electrothermal bipolar vessel sealer clinical experiences

An electrothermal bipolar vessel sealer (EBVS) has been developed as an alternative to suture vessels, hemostatic clips, staplers and ultrasonic coagulators for ligating vessels and tissue bundles. To leave the artificial material in the abdominal cavity, such as hemostatic clips or staplers, is undesirable because some complications have been reported and their long-term effects are not well known. We have performed laparoscopic colectomy without any metastatic clips using EBVS to divide all vessels.

From 2001 through 2002, ten consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer and ulcerative colitis with non-use of hemostatic clip technique in Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan.

All procedures were performed successfully without any kind of trouble. The average blood loss was 103.1 +/- 42.6mL. The average operation time was 234.0 +/- 11.1 min. There were no postoperative complications or death. In addition to the minimal blood loss and procedure time, the merit of EBVS is to leave no artificial material behind in contrast to the application of hemostatic clips or staplers.

The use of EBVS is safe and easy in laparoscopic colectomy. This non-clip technique using EBVS will reduce the opportunity to leave artificial materials in the abdominal cavity.