THE USE OF THE HARMONIC SCALPEL IN THYROID SURGERY. OUR EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the potential advantages of the use of Harmonic Scalpel in thyroidectomies in terms of operative
time and complications.
Material and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in private sector 2 hospitals, Said anwer medical centre,
and Abaseen Hospital, dabgari Gardens ,Peshawar-Pakistan. The study period was from January 2017 to March
2019 A total of 130 cases were recruited for thyroid surgery, 15 patients were dropped out due to different reasons. In
68 patients thyroidectomies were performed using harmonic scalpel FOCUS (group A), & in 47 without it (group B).
RESULTS: Mean operative time was 120 minutes in group A and 150 minutes in group B with a mean difference of 30
minutes (14.9%). 55 patients in group A (81.35%) and 34 in group B (73.4%) were discharged in second postoperative
day. In group A, hypoparathyroidism was present in 34 patients at discharge (48%), in 23 at 6 months (3.38%) and in
10 at 12 months (2.13%), in group B, in 25 at discharge (54.26%), in 61 at 6 months (12.98%) and in 28 at 12 months
(5.96%).
Conclusion: The use of Harmonic Scalpel in thyroid surgery is safe and effective and is associated with a significant
reduction in operative time, postoperative hypocalcaemia and hospital stay, without increasing complications rate