• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Log in
  • Search
    • Search All SAGES Content
    • Search SAGES Guidelines
    • Search the Video Library
    • Search the Image Library
    • Search the Abstracts Archive
www.sages.org

SAGES

Reimagining surgical care for a healthier world

  • Home
    • Search
    • SAGES Home
    • SAGES Foundation Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Who Is SAGES?
    • Leadership
    • Our Mission
    • Advocacy
    • Committees
      • SAGES Board of Governors
      • Officers and Representatives of the Society
      • Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs
      • Committee Rosters
      • SAGES Past Presidents
  • Meetings
    • SAGES NBT Innovation Weekend
    • SAGES Annual Meeting
      • 2026 Scientific Session Call for Abstracts
      • 2026 Emerging Technology Call for Abstracts
    • CME Claim Form
    • SAGES Past, Present, Future, and Related Meeting Information
    • SAGES Related Meetings & Events Calendar
  • Join SAGES!
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership Types
      • Requirements and Applications for Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Affiliate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Associate Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Candidate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for International Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements for Medical Student Membership
    • Member Spotlight
    • Give the Gift of SAGES Membership
  • Patients
    • Join the SAGES Patient Partner Network (PPN)
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Healthy Sooner – Patient Information for Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Choosing Wisely – An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation
    • All in the Recovery: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
    • Find A SAGES Surgeon
  • Publications
    • Clinical / Practice / Training Guidelines, Statements, and Standards of Practice
    • Sustainability in Surgical Practice
    • SAGES Stories Podcast
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Patient Information From SAGES
    • TAVAC – Technology and Value Assessments
    • Surgical Endoscopy and Other Journal Information
    • SAGES Manuals
    • MesSAGES – The SAGES Newsletter
    • COVID-19 Archive
    • Troubleshooting Guides
  • Education
    • Wellness Resources – You Are Not Alone
    • Avoid Opiates After Surgery
    • SAGES Subscription Catalog
    • SAGES TV: Home of SAGES Surgical Videos
    • The SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program
    • Masters Program
    • Resident and Fellow Opportunities
      • MIS Fellows Course
      • SAGES Robotics Residents and Fellows Courses
      • SAGES Free Resident Webinar Series
      • Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Course for Fellows
      • Fellows’ Career Development Course
    • SAGES S.M.A.R.T. Enhanced Recovery Program
    • SAGES @ Cine-Med Products
      • SAGES Top 21 Minimally Invasive Procedures Every Practicing Surgeon Should Know
      • SAGES Pearls Step-by-Step
      • SAGES Flexible Endoscopy 101
    • SAGES OR SAFETY Video Activity
  • Opportunities
    • Fellowship Recognition Opportunities
    • SAGES Advanced Flexible Endoscopy Area of Concentrated Training (ACT) SEAL
    • Multi-Society Foregut Fellowship Certification
    • Research Opportunities
    • FLS
    • FES
    • FUSE
    • Jobs Board
    • SAGES Go Global: Global Affairs and Humanitarian Efforts
  • OWLS/FLS
You are here: Home / Abstracts / A prospective randomized controlled study comparing ultrasonic dissector with electrocautery for axillary dissection in patients of carcinoma breast

A prospective randomized controlled study comparing ultrasonic dissector with electrocautery for axillary dissection in patients of carcinoma breast

Nikhil Gupta, Dr, Ananya Deori, Dr, Arun K Gupta, Dr, Dipankar Naskar, Dr, C K Durga, Dr. PGIMER Dr RML Hospital, Delhi

Background: The ultrasonic dissector, commonly known as the harmonic scalpel, has been in use for achieving haemostasis in surgery for almost 20 yrs. Its advantages in breast surgery, especially in the dissection of axilla, have been a matter of debate as previous studies have shown inconsistent results. This study compares the outcomes of the ultrasonic dissector in axillary dissection with that of the conventional electrocautery.

Methods: Patients who were undergoing MRM and BCS with axillary dissection from November 2014 till March 2016 were included in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups, group A undergoing axillary dissection with ultrasonic dissector and group B with electrocautery. The operative time, intra-op bleeding, post-op pain, post op drain volume, hospital stay and any other complications were noted in the two groups.

Results: The numbers of patients in both groups were 35 each. Group A had a significantly shorter operative time, both for axillary dissection (30.86 mins vs. 40.63 mins, p<0.001) and the total duration (77.20 vs. 90.20 mins, p=0.001). The blood loss was significantly less in group A, as measured by the mop count. There was significant reduction in the total post-op drainage volume, which resulted in fewer days of drain in-situ and the total number days stayed in the hospital. There was no significant change in the post-op complications such as haematoma, seroma, flap necrosis, oedema, etc.

Conclusion: With the use of ultrasonic dissector, the operative time, blood loss and the axillary drainage was significantly reduced. The axillary drainage in turn, reduced the hospital stay. There was no significant difference in terms of complications like haematoma formation, seroma formation, skin flap necrosis or oedema.

Key words: Breast; axilla; Harmonic; drainage


Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.

Abstract ID: 84731

Program Number: P078

Presentation Session: iPoster Session (Non CME)

Presentation Type: Poster

32

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

Related


sages_adbutler_leaderboard

Hours & Info

11300 West Olympic Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90064

1-310-437-0544

[email protected]

Monday – Friday
8am to 5pm Pacific Time

Find Us Around the Web!

  • Bluesky
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · SAGES · All Rights Reserved

Important Links

Healthy Sooner: Patient Information

SAGES Guidelines, Statements, & Standards of Practice

SAGES Manuals