Bipolar Energy Instruments in Laparoscopic Uterine Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the perioperative outcomes of patients with uterine cancer, who were operated using advanced or conventional bipolar instruments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with clinically early-stage endometrial cancer were randomized to advanced (LigaSure) or conventional (Robi forceps) bipolar groups. Surgeries were performed by laparoscopy. Hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy were done in all cases. Primary endpoint of the study was to compare operation time for 2 groups. Other perioperative outcomes were also compared. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier number of the study was NCT02822820.

RESULTS: Sixty-eight cases with endometrial cancer were randomized to 2 groups and each group included 34 subjects. Mean age and body mass index of all cases were 56.8 ± 10.4 years and 31.1 ± 5.3 kg/m2 , respectively. Mean operation time was found significantly shorter in advanced bipolar group (134.2 ± 29.7 minutes versus 163.5 ± 27.7 minutes, P < .001). The other variables investigated such as intraoperative blood loss, duration of hospital stay, and postoperative pain scores did not show statistically significant difference between the groups.

CONCLUSION: Operation time was shorter in advanced bipolar group, however, advanced and conventional bipolar energy instruments were comparable for other perioperative outcomes in laparoscopic endometrial cancer surgery.