THE USE OF LIGASURE IN THYROID SURGERY

The LigaSure Vessel Sealing System (Valley Lab, CO,USA) is abipolar diathermy system that seals vessels withreduced thermal spread and has been introduced as a new method for hemostasis during thyroidectomy. This reportreview our experience with use of ligaSure in thyroid surgery in one hundred twenty patients. This study was conducted in 7th October, Jala hospital and Benghazi Medical Centre, University Hospitals, Benghazi-Libya, On onehundred twenty patients who underwent thyroid surgery from June 2007 to December 2010. The medical records ofthe patients were collected and reviewed retrospectively regarding age, sex, histopathological diagnosis, type of operation performed (hemithyroidectomy vs. subtotal thyroidectomy vs. total thyroidectomy), operating time, postoperative complications and hospital stay. There were 17 males and 103 females (3 children), with a mean age of 42years, mean operative time was 57 minutes, one patient died (mortality 0.8%) due to pulmonary embolism and postoperative morbidity rate was (6.6%) 8 patients. Use of the LigaSure in thyroid surgery is a safe method with minimal complications, good haemostasis and significantly reduce operating time.