Arch Plast Surg.  2020 Jan;47(1):20-25. 10.5999/aps.2019.00759.

Ultrasonic dissection versus electrocautery for immediate prosthetic breast reconstruction

• Lee D
• Jung BK
• Roh TS
• Kim YS

• KMID: 2501131
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2019.00759

Abstract

Background
Ultrasonic dissection devices cause less thermal damage to the surrounding tissue than monopolar electrosurgical devices. We compared the effects of using an ultrasonic dissection device or an electrocautery device during prosthetic breast reconstruction on seroma development and short-term postoperative complications.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent implant-based reconstruction following mastectomy between March 2017 and September 2018. Mastectomy was performed by general surgeons and reconstruction by plastic surgeons. From March 2017 to January 2018, a monopolar electrosurgical device was used, and an ultrasonic dissection device was used thereafter. The other surgical methods were the same in both groups.
Results
The incidence of seroma was lower in the ultrasonic dissection device group than in the electrocautery group (11 [17.2%] vs. 18 [31.0%]; P=0.090). The duration of surgery, total drainage volume, duration of drainage, overall complication rate, surgical site infection rate, and flap necrosis rate were comparable between the groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk of seroma development was significantly lower in the ultrasonic dissection device group than in the electrocautery group (odds ratio for electrocautery, 3.252; 95% confidence interval, 1.242–8.516; P=0.016).
Conclusions
The findings of this study suggest that the incidence of seroma can be reduced slightly by using an ultrasonic dissection device for prosthesis-based breast reconstruction. However, further randomized controlled studies are required to verify our results and to assess the cost-effectiveness of this technique.

Keyword

Breast; Mammaplasty; Breast implants; Electrocoagulation; High-intensity focused ultrasound ablation