Shireen Ramzanali Damani, Sadiqa Haider, Syed Sagheer Hussain Shah.
Scalpel Versus Diathermy for Midline Abdominal Incisions.
J Surg Pak Jan ;19(1):18-21.

Objective: To compare the incision time, blood loss, post-operative complications (wound infection) and post-operative pain in midline laparotomies incisions made using scalpel versus diathermy. Study design: Randomised controlled trial. Place & Duration of study: Department of General Surgery Ward 26, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Karachi, from June 2012 to June 2013. Methodology: A total of 220 patients were enrolled in the study after taking informed consent. These patients were randomly assigned to Group A (Scalpel incision group) and Group B (Diathermy incision group) using opaque labeled envelopes. The surgeon was informed of the type of incision before the surgery started. Results: There was a significant statistical difference in terms of incision time (p = 0.001), blood loss (p=0.014), post-operative pain (p=0.001, 0.012 and 0.021 on day 1, 2 and 3 respectively) and post-operative analgesics requirement (p=0.021). On the other hand there was no significant statistical difference in terms of postoperative complications (wound infection) and length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Diathermy incision in midline laparotomy was significantly superior to the scalpel because of reduced incision time, less blood loss, less early postoperative pain and reduced analgesic requirements.

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