Use of Ligasure in thyroidectomy procedures: Results of a prospective comparative study

The thyroidectomy procedure requires many manupulations to achieve prompt hemostasis. This study assessed whether the outcomes of thyroidectomy using the Ligasure electrothermal vessel sealer were comparable with the conventional suture-ligation technique. We prospectively evaluated 58 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomy. Patients were allocated into two groups according to their preference. There were 30 patients in the Ligasure group and 28 patients in the conventional surgery group. Complications, operating time, and hospital stay were compared between the two groups and suture-ligations performed in the Ligasure group were recorded. The age, sex, and indications were similar in the two groups (p > 0.05). Complication rates and hospital stays did not show any difference according to the techniques used. Operating time was shorter in the hemithyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy patients of the Ligasure group (mean +/- SD: 77.38 +/- 13.71 vs. 99.80 +/- 12.53 minutes, p = 0.005; and 102.50 +/- 16.69 vs. 128.89 +/- 19.74 minutes, p = 0.010). The mean SD number of suture-ligations for each patient in the Ligasure group was 1.83 +/- 2.12. Thyroid surgery using the Ligasure is safe, and its complication rates are comparable to these found with the conventional surgical technique. Use of the Ligasure during hemithyroidectomy and total tyhroidectomy operations provides a significantly shorter operating time.