Comparison of Outcome after Thyroid Surgery Using Harmonic versus Conventional Clamp and Tie Method.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcome of thyroid surgery with harmonic versus conventional clamp-and tie thyroidectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A Randomized control trial PLACE AND DURATION: Jinnah Post Graduate Medical College, Department of Surgery, Unit I, Karachi. From 1st June, 2016 to 28th Feb, 2017. METHODOLOGY: All patients were divided in two groups i.e. Group A, in whom dissection and hemostasis were performed using conventional method and Group B, in which the Harmonic Focus were used. All the patients underwent near total/total thyroidectomy and the parameters includes post-operative hospital stay, intra-operative blood loss, postoperative pain and operative time were assessed. RESULTS: Total number of patients were 60 and Mean age of group A was 30.93±12.29 and in group B age was 34.73±10.22. Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve palsy in both groups was 6.7% vs 3.3% respectively. Mean post-operative hospital stay of group A was 3.03 and in group B age was 1.56 in days, mean intra-operative loss of blood of group A was 35.3ml and in group B was 28.06ml, mean postoperative pain measure of group A was 5.93 whereas in group B was 3.66, mean of operative time of group A was 105.4min and in group B was 79.83min. CONCLUSION: Use of the Harmonic Scalpel in total/near total thyroidectomy is safer, quicker and also decrease the post-operative hospital stay and post-operative pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]