GÜRCAN ALBENİZ OZAN AKINCI YASİN TOSUN
Akdeniz Tıp Dergisi - 2024;10(1):53-57
Objective: Scalpel is the conventional instrument for laparotomy incisions. Electrocautery, on the other hand, can offer potential advantages such as blood loss, incision time, postoperative pain. In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical results of electrocautery and scalpel in abdominal midline surgical incisions. Method: 146 cases who underwent elective abdominal midline incision between January 2020 December 2021 were included in the study. The patients were divided into two randomized groups as electrocautery (n: 78) and scalpel (n: 68). The incision dimensions, incision time and blood loss during incision were noted intraoperatively. Postoperative pain and wound infection were recorded. Results: The age and sex distribution was similar in the two groups. Incision time(seconds) in the electrocautery group (35.4±18.1) (57.6±25.3) was significantly shorter compared with the time in the scalpel group(p<0.001).The amount of bleeding was lower in the electrocautery group (p<0.001). Postoperative day 1 VAS score was significantly higher in the scalpel group however, the day 5 VAS score was higher in the electrocautery group (respectively; p<0.013 and p<0.001). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative wound complications (p>0.05). Conclusion: Abdominal midline skin incisions performed by electrocautery are associated with faster and less blood loss compared with the incisions using scalpel. There was no difference between the two methods in terms of postoperative wound complications. The pain score of the scalpel on postoperative day 5 was lower than the pain score of the electrocautery.
