SUBTOTAL THYROIDECTOMY;

COMPARING THE MEAN OPERATIVE TIME WITH HARMONIC SCALPEL VERSUS CONVENTIONAL VESSEL LIGATION METHOD

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the mean operative time in subtotal thyroidectomy with
harmonic scalpel and conventional vessel ligation method. Study Design: Randomized control
trial. Setting: Surgical unit of Bakhtawar Amin Medical and Dental College Multan. Period: April
2015 to April 2016 for one year. Methodology: A total number of 92 cases were selected for
this study and these were randomly divided into two equal groups by lottery method (Group
A= operated with harmonic scalpel, Group B= operated with conventional vessel ligation
method) each containing 46 patients. The sample size was calculated with the help of the WHO
Sample Size Calculator. (WHO sample size determination software version of KC Lun and Peter
Chiam). Sample Size, n= 92 (46 in each group). Expected mean operative time with harmonic
scalpel method (44.9 ± 8.3 minutes) compared with the Conventional ligation method (69.5 ±
10.7 minutes; P < .001). Data was analyzed with the use of SPSS version 23. The frequency
and percentage were calculated for qualitative variables like gender. Quantitative variables like
age and operative time were presented as mean and standard deviation. T test was applied
to compare the mean operative time between two groups. Results: A total number of 100%
(n=92) patients were included in this study. Gender distribution showed that there were more
males i.e 52.2% (n=48) and 47.8% (n=44) were females. The mean age of patients was 42.75
+ 14.33 years. Recorded mean duration of operation time was 47.69 + 6.51 minutes for group
A compared to the mean duration of operation of 71.61 + 7.32 minutes. This time difference
was statistically significant with a p-value of < 0.001. Conclusion: Subtotal thyroidectomy with
harmonic scalpel leads to a significantly reduced mean operative time compared to conventional
vessel ligation technique and should be opted routinely for this surgical procedure.