Total Thyroidectomy With Ultrasonic Scalpel: A
Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial
Introdution: The ultrasonic scalpel is a recently introduced device in head and
neck surgery. Total thyroidectomy is the most common endocrine procedure
performed by surgeons.
Methods: This was an open, phase IV, multicenter, randomized controlled trial
(RCT) that compared the use of an ultrasonic scalpel with a conventional
technique in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy. The outcomes were
surgical complication rate, operative time, drainage volume, postoperative
pain, and costs.
Results: In all, 261 patients were included in 11 centers. There was a mean
difference of 17% of operative time in favor of the ultrasonic scalpel group.
There were no differences in postoperative complications. There was a
difference in costs of 14% in favor of the ultrasonic scalpel group, but it was
not
statistically significant.
Conclusions: The use of an ultrasonic scalpel was as safe as that of the
conventional technique and had the advantage of a shorter operative time and
lower postoperative drainage. Costs were not different between groups.
Keywords: thyroid gland; thyroidectomy; ultrasonic scalpel; randomized
controlled trial; cost-effectiveness
Author:
Luiz P. Kowalski
Alvaro Sanabria
Jose Guilherme Vartanian
Roberto Araujo Lima
Ullianov Bezerra Toscano de Mendonca
Carlos Roberto dos Santos
Domingos Boldrini Junior
Luis Eduardo Barbalho de Mello
Fernando Paiva Pinto
Carlos Neutzling Lehn
Luiz Artur Costa Correa
Rogerio A. Dedivitis
Andre Vicente Guimarães
Paola Andrea Galbiatti Pedruzzi
Gyl Henrique Albrecht Ramos
Antonio Jose Gonçalves
Alexandre Baba Suehara
Jossi Ledo Kanda
Renato de Castro Capuzzo
Jose Carlos de Oliveira
Maria Paula Curado
Jose Francisco de Gois Filho
Erica Fukuyama
Ivo Marquis Beserra Junior
Paulo Bentes de Carvalho Neto
Andre Lopes Carvalho