A Comparative Analysis of Cutting Electrocautery and Scalpel for Performing Cutaneous Incisions Over the Neck
- A Prospective, Randomized, Single Blind Study
Gaurav A Thakare*, Nitin Bhola, Anchal Agarwal and Chinmay Ghavat
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, India
*Corresponding Author: Gaurav A Thakare, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, India.
Received: December 28, 2021; Published: February 11, 2022
Abstract
Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the outcome of patients following use of scalpel and Cutting Electrocautery over Neck incisions in patients undergoing Neck Dissection.
Materials And Methods: A total of 80 patients undergoing Maxillofacial surgical procedures requiring Neck incisions were analyzed prospectively from Jan 2018 to May 2020 and divided into two groups using the Even-Odd randomization method. Patients requiring cutaneous neck incisions were divided into two groups, Group A comprised the patients in whom incisions were given using electrocautery, whereas, Group B comprised of patients in whom incisions were given using Scalpel. Incision time, Blood loss, Postoperative pain, healing of wound and cosmetic assessments of the scar were compared in both the groups.
Results: Our study found that there was statistically significant lesser blood loss (ml) in Group A, (Electrocautery) (5.17 + 0.33) as compared to Group B, (scalpel group) (10.94 + 0.59) (p < 0.001) and shorter incision time in Group A (Electrocautery) (3.14 + 0.25) as compared to Group B (scalpel group) (5.20 + 0.23) (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of Postoperative pain, healing of wound and cosmetic assessments of the scar between two groups.
Conclusion: Cutaneous incisions designed by the cutting electrocautery unit require less time and were found to be superior to scalpel in terms of minimizing blood loss during the incision design, whereas no statistically significant difference in healing, postoperative pain and cosmetic outcome was noted.
Keywords: Electrocautery; Scalpel; Scar; Neck incision; REEDA
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