Comparison of the Electrothermal Bipolar Sealing System (LigaSure) Versus Endoloop in Pediatric Laparoscopic Appendectomy

Evaluation of intestinal wall closure using vessel-sealing technology versus conventional closure: an in vivo study

PURPOSE

Anastomotic leakage is a major postoperative complication of colorectal surgery. LigaSure™ is used commonly for vessel-sealing, but its use for intestinal anastomosis or closure, particularly the healing process, is underreported. We conducted this study to evaluate the feasibility of using LigaSure™ for intestinal wall closure, compared with hand-sewn methods.

METHODS

We performed intestinal wall closure of the cecum in rat laparotomy procedures, dividing subjects into a LigaSure™ group (LS) and a hand-sewn group (HS). We compared operation times, tissue structure changes, and pressure resistance from immediately post-operatively to postoperative day (POD) 14.

RESULTS

No postoperative dehiscence or mortality occurred in either group. The LS group required significantly less closure time (113 s) than the HS group (321 s, p < 0.001). The adhesion rates for a midline incision were not significantly different between the groups (LS: 26.7% vs. HS: 6.7%; p = 0.142), with adhesions at the closure site seen in all subjects. The LS group had a lower burst pressure than the HS group until POD 3, with no significant differences thereafter. Structural continuity was established by POD 5 in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

LigaSure™ provides effective intestinal wall closure with a more distinct healing process than with hand-sewn methods, suggesting the potential for staple-free anastomosis.

Application and curative effect of laparoscopic purse-string sutures in the treatment of adult acute complicated appendicitis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of laparoscopic purse-string sutures in adult complicated appendicitis treatment.

METHODS

The data of 568 adult cases of complicated appendicitis treated by laparoscopic appendectomy at the Hefei Second People's Hospital, Anhui Province, China, from September 2018 to September 2021 were analysed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: 295 cases in the laparoscopic purse-string suture treatment group (observation group) and 273 cases in the simple Hem-o-lok^® clamp treatment group (control group). The baseline data collected included age, gender, preoperative body temperature, leukocyte count and percentage of neutrophils and the surgery time. The postoperative data collected included antibiotic treatment duration, drainage tube placement time and the incidence of complications.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the baseline data of the two groups, including age, gender, preoperative body temperature, leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage (all P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the postoperative hospital length of stay, duration of antibiotic treatment, the recovery time of peripheral white blood cell and neutrophil counts and the incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Purse-string sutures can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative complications after a laparoscopic appendectomy for adult acute complicated appendicitis. There was faster postoperative recovery when patients' appendiceal stumps were treated with laparoscopic purse-string sutures.

Use of a bipolar device (LigaSure) to seal the appendiceal stump in pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy: 10-year Latin-American experience

BACKGROUND

Closure of the appendiceal stump is a critical step during an appendectomy. There is a lack of knowledge about the feasibility of using electrosurgical devices for the occlusion of the appendix. This study aims to determine the safety of this technique in pediatric patients.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional analytical study in patients less than 18 years of age treated at Hospital Militar Central Colombia between 2012 and 2021. Our institution's ethics committee approved the study. We analyzed the data using SPSS 22 statistical program. We present frequencies for qualitative variables and measures of central tendency or dispersion for quantitative variables depending on the distribution measured by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. In addition, we measured the association of nominal variables with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. For numerical variables, the difference of means with the Student's t-test or the difference of medians with the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

We treated 209 patients. One hundred sixteen (55.5%) were boys, and the mean age was 9.7 years (SD 3.2). The median intraoperative time was 60 min, and the hospital stay was 2.8 days on average. There were no cases of stump leakage, and only two patients (1%) had an organ-space surgical site infection, which was unrelated to the closure technique. We found no association between procedural complications and appendicular status (p = 0.450).

CONCLUSIONS

Our research suggests that using a bipolar sealing device (Ligasure, Medtronic, USA) for appendiceal stump closure in pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy is feasible and should be further studied.

TYPE OF STUDY

Treatment study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.