Randomized comparative study of the effectiveness and safety of various bipolar devices during electrosurgical vaginal hysterectomy

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the morphometric features of tissues after exposure to bipolar energy of various electrosurgical generators and surgical hemostatic instruments used in vaginal hysterectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 48 individuals who underwent a vaginal hysterectomy. The patients were divided in three groups based on the instrument used for sealing blood vessels: a BiClamp ® was applied in Group 1 ( n = 16), a TissueSeal PLUS COMFORT ® in Group 2 ( n = 16), and a Thunderbeat ® in Group 3 ( n = 16). The maximum temperature of tissue measured using a Fluke FLK TIS 40 9HZ thermal imaging infrared camera was compared within the groups. RESULTS: The maximum tissue temperature between the branches on electroligation, the minimum tissue temperature, and the tissue temperature at the coagulation boundary were significantly lower when using a TissueSeal PLUS COMFORT ® clamp than when using BiClamp ® and Thunderbeat ® clamps (H value = 41.8, p ≤ 0.01). Morphometric parameters (prevalence, coagulation depth and area) were the smallest with a TissueSeal PLUS COMFORT ® clamp compared to other clamps. CONCLUSIONS: Using a TissueSeal PLUS COMFORT ® clamp during vaginal hysterectomy is effective and safe and has the best thermometric and morphometric characteristics when applied to the tissue, thereby reducing the risk of lateral thermal damage. The possibility of perifocal heat transfer varies with the type of tool and with the temperature at the coagulation boundary.