COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN LIGASURE (BIPOLAR) CAUTERY VERSUS CONVENTIONAL METHOD FOR AXILLARY DISSECTION IN MODIFIED RADICAL MASTECTOMY-A SINGLE CENTRED EXPERIENCE IN TERTIARY CARE SETTINGS

Background: There are significant concerns regarding the rising trends of mortality and morbidity due to breast cancer all over the globe. It is impossible to overestimate the significance of precise staging, especially the evaluation of axillary lymph node involvement by axillary lymph node biopsy. The investigation of cutting-edge methods like Liga Sure has become necessary due to post-operative issues such as seroma formation.Objectives: To evaluate and compare the outcomes of axillary dissection using Liga Sure Bipolar cautery and conventional monopolar electrocautery.Results: A total of 120 female patients with breast cancer were selected and equally divided into two groups one with conventional cautery and the other with a Liga Sure device. The mean age of patients was 54.2 ± 8.9 yr. Seroma formed in 97 (80.8%) patients in conventional cautery while in 23 (19.2%) patients in the Liga Sure group. Mean blood loss was more in the conventional group 355.15 ± 30.6 ml compared with 256 ± 25.8 ml with a p-value of 0.000. The drain could be removed earlier in the Liga Sure group at 3.4 ± 0.6 days compared with the conventional group at 7.7 ± 1.8 days. Total drain output was less in the Liga Sure group 223.2 ± 34.1 ml compared with the conventional group 268.75 ± 25.7 with a p-value of 0.000.Conclusion: Liga Sure Bipolar cautery shows promise as an axillary dissection technique for Modified Radical Mastectomy. When Liga Sure is used instead of traditional cautery, better results are seen in terms of less blood loss during surgery, less overall drain output, and a shorter hospital stay. The results suggest that Liga Sure Bipolar cautery holds promise as a technique for axillary dissection in Modified Radical Mastectomy. A better outcome is observed with Liga Sure usage as compared with conventional cautery in terms of reduced per-op blood loss, lesser total drain output, and shortened hospital stay.