Electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealing during axillary lymphadenectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Various methods are currently used during axillary lymphadenectomy. Our systematic review aims to investigate the potential benefits of bipolar vessel sealing systems (EBVS) over conventional suture ligation during the axillary dissection of breast cancer patients.

We searched Medline (1966-2014), Scopus (2004-2014), Popline (1973-2014) Cochrane CENTRAL (1999-2014) and ClinicalTrials.gov (2000-2014) together with reference lists from included studies Statistical meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.1 software.

Four studies were finally included, involving 352 patients. Usage of EBVS significantly increased the number of retrieved axillary lymph nodes (MD 1.67 nodes, 95% CI 0.21, 3.13). Intraoperative times were not affected by these new technique, when compared to traditional suture ligation (MD -10.82 minutes, 95% CI -23.27, 2.70). Neither the volume of postoperative axillary drainage (MD -38.47 ml, 95% CI -110.26, 32.59) nor the duration of drainage (MD -0.49 days, 95% CI -1.23, 0.25) were significantly affected by EBVS application. We observed, however, that bipolar systems may be associated with an increased risk of postoperative seroma formation (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.13, 3.70).

Electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealing systems seem to increase the accuracy of axillary dissection and are equally safe compared to conventional suture ligation regarding intraoperative and postoperative blood loss. They are associated, however, with and increased incidence of seroma formation. Further randomized trials are needed in the field in order to obtain firm conclusions.