Publication:

Suture versus vessel sealer in vaginal hysterectomy: an observational study

Background Vaginal route is considered to be the method of choice for removal of uterus and, in the absence of gross pelvic disease, can be carried out in most patients. Recent studies have shown that less than one-third of hysterectomies are performed vaginally. This could be due to technical difficulties occurring while operating in the narrow surgical field. This study was taken up to find out the easier alternatives in securing pedicles by using Electrosurgical Bipolar Vessel Sealer in Vaginal Hysterectomy.

Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur over a period of one year i.e. July 15 to June 16. A total of 62 patients posted for vaginal hysterectomy for benign conditions were enrolled after informed consent. Results were recorded under headings of procedure time (min), blood loss (ml), major intra-operative complications and post operative complications, post-operative pain (on VAS) and duration of hospital stay.

Results Mean procedure time in suture method was found to be 55.66min, whereas, in sealer group it was 27.75 min. Mean blood loss in the sealer group was 83.78ml, while, in suture group it was 156.62ml. Mean pain score on Visual Analogue Scale on POD 1 was 8.44±1.1522 for suture group and 6±1.325 for sealer group. Mean pain score on POD2 in sealer group was 3.48±1.325 and in the suture group it was 5.31±1.754 (P 200ml was observed in 29.03% of suture cases, none in the sealer group (P-value .0006). Labial burn occurred in 2 out of 32patients in sealer group.

Conclusions From above study, we conclude that bipolar vessel sealer has shown a significant reduction in intra-operative blood loss, procedure time, immediate post-operative pain (POD1,2&3), mean length of stay in hospital, major intra-operative blood loss>200ml which was found in significant number of cases in suture group.