The feasibility of bipolar tissue sealer for appendix stump closure
Umut Rıza Gündüz1, Rojbin Karakoyun1, Şükrü Özdemir1
1a Department of Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital , Antalya, Turkey.
Background:
Appendiceal stump closure is a highly important step in laparoscopic appendectomy, especially for post-operative complications. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of suture ligation and bipolar tissue sealer techniques on burst pressure using flesh appendectomy specimens.
Material And Methods:
Appendectomy specimens of 32 patients with grade I-II disease were included in the study. Perforated or necrotic appendices and specimens ineligible for pressure measurement were excluded from the study. Appendiceal stumps of 16 patients in group 1 were double-ligated with 2/0 polyglactin sutures, then appendectomy was performed between these sutures. In group 2, the management of the stump was performed through single ligation with polyglactin suture, followed by appendectomy using a bipolar tissue sealing device. Burst pressures were recorded for all specimens.
Results:
There were no differences between groups in terms of age and sex. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of burst pressure (p = 0.92). Also, no significant difference was found between groups in terms of localization of the perforation (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Bipolar tissue sealer achieves safe stump closure with satisfactory burst pressure values. Based on this, using bipolar tissue sealer for appendiceal stump closure in appendicitis may be safe and reliable.
