A Comparative Study of Harmonic Scalpel Versus Electrocautery Dissection in Modified Radical Mastectomy in Breast Carcinoma Cases

Patients with MRM by harmonic scalpel exhibited significantly lower intraoperative blood loss (92.50 ± 9.67 mL) than by electrocautery (172.50 ± 30.76 mL) (p-value <.0001). The average operative time was significantly shorter for the harmonic scalpel (111.00 ± 10.71 minutes) than for the electrocautery (169.50 ± 19.32 minutes) (p-value <.0001). Postoperative pain was lower for the harmonic scalpel (visual analog scale (VAS) score 3.75 ± 0.79) than for the electrocautery (VAS score 6.10 ± 0.85) (p-value <.0001). The incidence of flap necrosis was not substantially different between the categories; seroma formation was significantly lower with the use of a harmonic scalpel (p-value <.0001). Subjects in the group of harmonic scalpels also had shorter hospital stays (8.35 ± 0.93 days) compared with the electrocautery group (12.20 ± 1.06 days) (p-value <.0001).