Erschienen in:
01.12.2009 | Head and Neck
A prospective observational study of 363 cases operated with three different harmonic scalpels
verfasst von:
Drago Prgomet, Saša Janjanin, Mario Bilić, Ratko Prstačić, Lana Kovač, Mihael Rudeš, Vladimir Katić
Erschienen in:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
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Ausgabe 12/2009
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Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the Harmonic ACE™, Harmonic FOCUS™ and harmonic scalpel with 5-mm curved blade in head and neck surgery. During a 15-month period, we performed 295 thyroidectomies, 23 parotidectomies and 45 tonsillectomies using the harmonic scalpel. Control group consisted of 106 thyroidectomies, 9 parotidectomies and 30 tonsillectomies performed with the use of conventional hemostatic techniques. The use of both Harmonic ACE™ and Harmonic FOCUS™ scalpel reduced the time of thyroid and parotid surgery by 20–25%. The use of Harmonic ACE™ reduced the mean time of tonsillectomy, while the use of 5-mm curved blade had no significant effect. Postoperative pain and complication rate were comparable for both the groups. In conclusion, the use of both Harmonic ACE™ and Harmonic FOCUS™ devices significantly reduces operative time in the head and neck procedures and enables a smaller neck skin incision in thyroidectomy.