Shabbir Ahmed, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Asad Riaz, Aamir Furqan.
Subtotal Thyroidectomy; Comparing The Mean Operative Time With Harmonic Scalpel Versus Conventional Vessel Ligation Method.
Professional Med J Jan ;24(10):1544-9.

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.

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