Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: September 15, 2023
Impact of scalpel type on operative time and acute complications in thyroidectomies
Tamires Santos Fraga1, Hugo Fontan Köhler1, Thiago Celestino Chulam1
1A.C. Camargo Câncer Center, Departamento de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço e Otorrinolaringologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Introduction:
Thyroidectomy is the most common surgery in the cervical region. Currently, several techniques are available for intraoperative hemostasis.
Objective:
To compare the performance of three techniques (monopolar and bipolar electrical and ultrasonic) on operative time and postoperative complications.
Methods:
Patients submitted to total thyroidectomy without prior treatment were included in this prospective series study, using a scientific design.
Results:
A total of 834 patients were included; 661 women (79.3%) and 173 men (20.7%). The diagnosis was malignant neoplasia in 528 patients (63.3%) and benign disease in 306 patients (36.7%). The monopolar electric scalpel was used in 280 patients (33.6%), bipolar scalpel in 210 patients (25.2%) and ultrasonic scalpel in 344 patients (41.3%). The operative time was significantly shorter with the ultrasonic or bipolar scalpel when compared to the electric scalpel. In a linear regression model, gender, malignancy diagnosis and power energy type were significant for the procedure duration. Patients who underwent surgery with an ultrasound or bipolar scalpel had a significantly lower incidence of hypoparathyroidism.
Conclusion:
The use of ultrasonic or bipolar scalpel significantly reduces operative time and the incidence of transient hypoparathyroidism.
