Therapeutic Effects of Bipolar Coagulation Forceps on Open Thyroid Surgery.

BACKGROUND

The aim was to compare the therapeutic effects of bipolar coagulation forceps, harmonic scalpel, and conventional thyroidectomy on open thyroid surgery.

METHODS

A total of 527 patients who received open thyroid surgery in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School between February 2013 and February 2016 were randomly divided into three groups: bipolar coagulation forceps, harmonic scalpel, and conventional thyroidectomy. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, disease constituents or mass diameter between the three groups. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon. The surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative volume of drainage, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications of the three surgical methods were compared.

RESULTS

The bipolar coagulation forceps and harmonic scalpel groups were significantly superior to the conventional thyroidectomy group (p < 0.05) in terms of surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative volume of drainage, and postoperative hospital stay, but the first two groups had similar outcomes (p > 0.05). There were significant differences between the three groups in temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and temporary hypoparathyroidism, and the results of the bipolar coagulation forceps group were significantly better than those of the other two groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in airway depression due to postoperative bleeding or irritating cough induced by superior laryngeal nerve palsy between the three groups (p > 0.05). None of the patients in the three groups suffered from permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy or permanent hypoparathyroidism.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects of bipolar coagulation forceps on open thyroid surgery exceeded those of the harmonic scalpel and conventional thyroidectomy. This method is worthy of promotion in clinical practice.