@article{3097649, title = "Electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system is a safe and time-saving alternative to classic suture a ligation in total thyroidectomy", author = "Manouras, A and Lagoudianakis, EE and Antonakis, PT and Filippakis, GM and and Markogiannakis, H and Kekis, PB", journal = "HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK", year = "2005", volume = "27", number = "11", pages = "959-962", publisher = "John Wiley & Sons, Inc", doi = "10.1002/hed.20271", keywords = "total thyroidectomy; LigaSure; hemostasis; ligation", abstract = "Background. Total thyroidectomy is associated with minimal morbidity. The electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system is an adjunct to the surgical technique, recently made available to thyroid surgery. Methods. This is a prospective randomized trial of total thyroidectomies performed in single unit from July 2003 to May 2004. Patients were randomly assigned in two groups: group A (n = 90), total thyroidectomy with the classic suture ligation technique; and group B (n = 94), total thyroidectomy with the use of the electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system. Results. Operative time was significantly reduced in group B by 14 minutes (mean difference, 14.3 +/- 4.2 minutes, 95% Cl, 5.88-22.6 minutes). No statistically significant differences were found in postoperative complications, postoperative serum calcium measurements, or hospital stay between the two groups. Conclusions. The electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system is a safe and useful, time-saving adjunct for total thyroidectomy. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc." }