Comparative study between electrocautery and scalpel in making midline abdominal incisions: An observational randomized controlled clinical study

Abstract

Background: Electrocautery has the advantages of making incisions with less blood loss, and dry and rapid dissection of tissue. Possible postoperative risks associated with electrocautery use are poor wound healing and surgical site infection. Aim and Objectives: To compare diathermy with scalpel in making midline incisions with regard to blood loss, time taken for incision, postoperative pain and wound infection. Material and Methods: Comparative observational study of 100 patients operated on through midline abdominal incision with 50 patients in Group A (the electrocautery group) and remaining 50 patients in Group B (the scalpel group). The dimension of the incision, time taken for making incisions and blood loss were reported. The postoperative pain and wound infection were also monitored. Results: Significant difference was revealed between Groups A and B concerning the mean time for incision per unit area of the wound, 8.26±1.46 and 10.96±1.59 s\cm2 respectively (p<0.0001). An average blood loss per unit area of the wound was found to be significantly lower in the electrocautery group; 0.30±0.041 and 1.29±0.22 ml\cm2 respectively (p-value<0.0001). Postoperative pain and surgical site infection were not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.1508 and 1, respectively). Conclusion: Electrocautery is safe in making abdominal incisions when compared to scalpel, and is associated with less blood loss and incision time with comparable postoperative pain and surgical site infection.

Keywords

• electrocautery incision
• diathermy incision
• scalpel incision
• midline incision