The use of the Ligasure vessel sealing system in head and neck surgery: a report on six years of experience and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND

The Ligasure Vessel Sealing System (LVSS) is a bipolar electrosurgical device with integrated active feedback control, sealing vessels up to 7 mm in diameter. It facilitates surgery by achieving the efficient haemostasis of blood vessels encountered during dissection, and allowing the rapid and secure division of vascularised tissues, while minimising thermal injury to adjacent tissues.

OBJECTIVE

To report on our experience and review studies relating to the use of LVSS in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

TYPE OF REVIEW: Retrospective series. Search strategy and evaluation method: LVSS has been widely used in our department since 2002. All patient records relating to the use of LVSS were reviewed, and compared to surgical procedures done by our team without the use of LVSS, with special regard to operation time and post-operative complications. Furthermore, a Medline search and thorough review was conducted for all pertinent articles on LVSS in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and those articles were reviewed.

RESULTS

In our department, LVSS is used for thyroidectomy, laryngectomy, neck dissection, parotidectomy, tonsillectomy procedures, congenital cysts, thryroglossal cysts, and excisions of submandibular gland and parapharyngeal space tumours. LVSS provided sufficient haemostasis, operating time was shorter, and post-operative complications did not differ compared to similar surgical procedures performed without the LVSS. The Medline search revealed 16 studies published by other colleagues regarding the use of LVSS in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery procedures (15 studies in thyroid and 1 study in parotid surgery). The results published were similar to ours.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of LVSS in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery may have several advantages over standard methods. It is a reliable and safe device, providing sufficient haemostasis and reducing operating time.