Using Ligasure™ or Harmonic Ace® in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomies? A Prospective Randomized Study

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a leading surgical treatment for morbid obesity.
• Advancements in laparoscopic devices are crucial for vascular control and tissue dissection during these procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of Ligasure™ versus Harmonic Ace® in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
• To evaluate operative time and intraoperative/postoperative complications between the two devices.

Main Methods:

• A prospective randomized study involving 94 patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
• Patients were randomized into two groups: one using Ligasure™ and the other using Harmonic Ace®.
• Comparison of operative time, intraoperative, and postoperative complications.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in operative time between the Ligasure™ group (45.0±15.0 min) and the Harmonic Ace® group (40.0±20.0 min) (p=0.199).
• Intraoperative complication rates were 32.6% for Ligasure™ and 15.7% for Harmonic Ace® (p=0.054).
• Postoperative complication rates were 4.7% for Ligasure™ and 17.6% for Harmonic Ace® (p=0.051).

Conclusions:

• Both Ligasure™ and Harmonic Ace® offer good ergonomics for surgeons performing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
• There were no statistically significant differences in operative time or overall complication rates between the two devices.
• The choice between Ligasure™ and Harmonic Ace® for sleeve gastrectomy primarily depends on surgeon preference, given their comparable safety and efficacy.