Pilot study on inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy by sealing device - Ilsede study.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to evaluate the impact of the use of a sealing device during inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy on the reduction of postoperative complications.

METHODS

A single-institution, prospective, nonrandomized study was carried out. Fifteen patients with vulvar cancer underwent wide excision and inguinal lymphadenectomy between May 2017 and April 2019. Five patients underwent lymphadenectomy with a bipolar sealing device, whereas the remaining 10 patients received the standard procedure. Postoperative complications including wound infection, seroma, and lymphedema were selected as the primary outcome.

RESULTS

Patients who underwent surgery using a sealing device showed significantly lower wound infection rate (0 cases, 0%) compared with patients who underwent the standard procedure (7 cases, 70%; P = 0.026). Incidence of seroma and lymphedema did not show statistically significant differences between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a sealing device to perform the inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy in vulvar cancer could reduce the rate of wound infection compared with the standard procedure.