Bipolar Vessel Sealing System Versus Suture Ligation in Selective Neck Dissection

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Vascular Surgery Techniques

Background:

• Selective neck dissection is a standard procedure for oral cancer management.
• Traditional suture ligation for vessel control can lead to significant blood loss and prolonged operating times.
• Minimally invasive techniques are sought to improve surgical outcomes and patient recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system versus suture ligation in selective neck dissection for oral cancer.
• To evaluate differences in blood loss, operating time, complications, and patient outcomes between the two methods.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 60 oral cancer patients undergoing selective neck dissection.
• Patients were divided into two groups: Group I (electrothermal bipolar vessel sealer) and Group II (suture ligation).
• Key outcome measures included blood loss, operative time, surgical field quality, postoperative pain, drainage, edema, complications, and hospital stay.

Main Results:

• The electrothermal bipolar vessel sealer group demonstrated significantly less blood loss (p=0.001) and shorter operating time (p=0.001).
• A superior surgical field quality (p=0.001) and reduced postoperative pain (p<0.05) were observed in the sealer group.
• Drainage volume at 24 and 48 hours was also significantly lower (p<0.05) with the sealer; however, edema, complications, and hospital stay were similar between groups.

Conclusions:

• Electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing is an effective technique for selective neck dissection in oral cancer patients.
• It offers significant advantages in reducing blood loss, operating time, and improving surgical visualization.
• The technique provides comparable safety and patient outcomes to suture ligation without increasing perioperative morbidity.