Liga Sure Versus Conventional Suture Ligature for Decrease Blood Loss During Abdominal Hysterectomy: Randomized Controlled Trial

Hysterectomy represents the second most performed surgery in gynecology after the Cesarean Section. Worldwide most of the hysterectomies are performed abdominally. (1) One in 9 women will undergo a hysterectomy in their lifetime. (1) Surgical blood loss of more than 1000 mL or blood loss that requires a blood transfusion usually defines intraoperative hemorrhage. Intraoperative hemorrhage has been reported in 1% to 2% of hysterectomy studies. (2) As with any surgical treatment, complications affect the outcomes of hysterectomy. Hemorrhage, which is the most frequent and critical complication, often occurs during surgery. Data from The Danish Hysterectomy and Hysteroscopy Database (DHHD) has revealed a relatively high complication rate of 16-18% from 1998 to 2006, of which perioperative bleeding complications represent the most common cause.(3 )From 2004 to 2006, 6-8% of all women undergoing benign hysterectomy in Denmark experienced a bleeding complication .(4 ) Therefore, adequate hemostatic techniques are essential during abdominal hysterectomy. Currently, surgical hemostasis can be secured by a variety of methods, including mechanical sutures (or clamping), electric coagulation, ultrasonically activated scalpel or drugs. (4)

Liga Sure represents a novel principle for hemostatic sealing of vessel-containing tissue based on feedback-programmed dosage of bipolar diathermy.(5) According to marketing of the device, Liga Sure has the potential to replace the use of conventional suture ligature within a broad range of surgical procedures, also including removal of the uterus. While the use of Liga Sure has been critically assessed for a range of procedures such as hemorrhoidectomy, splenectomy, bile duct, urological and gastric operations,(6-12) a similar scientific evaluation of its suitability for abdominal removal of the uterus is lacking in the literature. The most promising aspect of Liga Sure in hysterectomy is the potential shorter operation time and decrease blood loss. Because removal of the uterus traditionally is the most frequently performed major gynecological operation,(13) the introduction of a time-sparing new technique could have significant impact on resource consumption.

The aim of the study:

we aimed at evaluating the use of Liga Sure compared with conventional suture ligature during abdominal hysterectomy, in a prospective randomized controlled trial with special emphasis on the safety, the duration of the procedure and the amount of blood loss.

Materials and Methods After obtaining ethics committee approval and patient consent, we will randomize patients about to undergo elective abdominal hysterectomy, between the use of Liga Sure and conventional suture ligature during the operation. Patients who were admitted for non-acute planned abdominal total or subtotal hysterectomy were eligible. Two experienced lecturer gynecologists performed the operations. 60 patients for each of the tow operators were block-randomized. The treatment options, 30 of each in each randomization block, were first concealed in envelopes. Thereafter, the sequence was generated using computer-generated random number lists. The 60 projected patients will include and will be randomized between December 2017 and December 2019. The following pre- and intra-operative parameters will be registered: the indication for the operation, the type of incision, procedures in addition to the hysterectomy, the duration of the operation, the blood loss and the use of intra-operative blood transfusions. When Liga Sure was used, the eventual number of its replacements by suture ligature due to unsuccessful vessel sealing was registered. During the first 30 post-operative days, the following parameters were registered: all types of re-operations, the use of blood transfusion, the occurrence of fever above 38°C, all types of infections, deep vein thrombosis and the length of the post-operative hospital stay.