J Breast Cancer.  2013 Jun;16(2):198-201. 10.4048/jbc.2013.16.2.198.

The Effect of Plasmakinetic Cautery on Wound Healing and Complications in Mastectomy

• Dogan L
• Gulcelik M
• Yuksel M
• Uyar O
• Erdogan O
• Reis E

• KMID: 2286401
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2013.16.2.198

Abstract

PURPOSE
Surgical equipment used in breast cancer surgery that affects wound healing and minimizes complications seems to be a popular investigation topic. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of plasmakinetic cautery on wound healing in patients receiving mastectomy.
METHODS
Forty-six consecutive breast cancer patients receiving modified radical mastectomy were evaluated prospectively. Plasmakinetic cautery was used in 24 operations and electrocautery was used in 22 operations in random order to manage skin flaps and excise breast tissue. In the postoperative period, vacuum drainage amount and duration time as well as the start time of arm exercises were recorded. Complications like seroma, surgical site infection, hematoma, and flap necrosis were determined.
RESULTS
Age, body mass index, breast volume and flap area parameters were similar in each group. Mean drainage duration was found to be 5.5 days in the plasmacautery group and 7.9 days in the electrocautery group (p=0.020). In the plasmacautery and electrocautery groups, mean drainage volume was 707 and 1,093 mL, respectively (p=0.025). There was no statistical significance between the groups when operation duration, amount of blood loss, time to start arm exercises, seroma, hematoma, surgical site infection, and flap necrosis were considered.
CONCLUSION
Plasmakinetic cautery is a promising new surgical instrument that provides atraumatic, scalpel-like cutting precision and electrosurgical-like hemostasis, resulting in minimal tissue injury. So, plasmacautery shortens the drainage amount and duration time compared to electrocautery without elongating operation duration or increasing the amount of blood loss.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Complications; Plasmakinetic cautery; Wound healing

MeSH Terms

Arm
Body Mass Index
Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Cautery
Drainage
Electrocoagulation
Exercise
Hematoma
Hemostasis
Humans
Mastectomy
Mastectomy, Modified Radical
Necrosis
Postoperative Period
Prospective Studies
Seroma
Skin
Surgical Equipment
Surgical Instruments
Vacuum
Wound Healing

Figure

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  Figure 1 Preparing upper flaps with plasmacautery in mastectomy.

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