Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Traditional Vaginal Hysterectomy to Harmonic Scalpel Hysterectomy

Patients booked for vaginal hysterectomy at Southern Health will be offered participation in this trial, and randomised to two separate groups: procedure using ultrasonic shears or traditional sutures. Each patient will receive detailed explanation in document form as well as from the Gynaecology registrar in pre-admission clinic prior to obtaining consent.

After the procedure of vaginal hysterectomy, a research associate will follow these patients up until discharge, collecting relevant data.

A statistician has been employed to perform power calculations, and to analyse data after collection, looking at outcomes mentioned above.

The Harmonic Scalpel has been extensively used to replace the use of traditional clamping and suturing in General Surgery, Laparoscopic surgery, and specifically Total Laparoscopic Vaginal Hysterectomies, but it has never been subjected to a randomised control trial to confirm the anecdotal benefits of the device.