Background: Skin incisions have traditionally been made using a scalpel. Recent studies suggest that electrocautery may offer potential advantages with respect to blood loss, incision time and postoperative pain.
Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of electocautery versus conventional scalpel for skin incision for Lichtenstein mesh hernioplasty with an aim to evaluate electocautery as an effective alternative to scalpel incision.
Methods: This was a prospective randomized clinical study which was conducted in the Index medical college and hospital Indore from period April2013 to March 2014. A total of 125 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 65 patients to Group a (electrocautery) and 60 patients were randomized to Group B (Scalpel group).
Results: Demograph of the two groups did not differ significantly (p > 0.001). result showelectrocautery group were significantly quicker (p = 0.001), and associated with less blood loss (P =0.012) compare to scalpel group.The mean visual pain analogue scale was significantly reduced more in the electrocautery group than in Scalpel group patients on postoperative day 1 (p =0.001), day 2 (p =0.011) and 3 (p =0.021) respectively with the mean amount of intramuscular analgesic requirement was significantly less (p=0.021) in elecrocautery group. Postoperative complication rates did not differ significantly between the both groups (p = 0.243).
Conclusion: We conclude that electrocautery incision in elective inguinal hernioplasty has
Significant advantages compared with the scalpel because of reduced incision time, less blood loss, reduced early postoperative pain and analgesic requirements.
Impact Factor
2017: 6.614
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