Ligasure Vessel Sealing System versus Conventional Suture Ligation Method in Vaginal Hysterectomy

Objective: To compare the efficiency of ligasure vessel-sealing system with conventional sutures ligation method in vaginal hysterectomy. Methods: A randomized clinical trial (RCT) was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at King Hussein Medical Centre in Jordan between March 2010 and May 2012. A total of 100 patients for vaginal hysterectomy were recruited in this study: ligasure vessel sealing system was used for 52 patients and a conventional suture ligation method was used for 48 patients. The patients were re-evaluated two weeks, two months, and six months after the procedure. Results: The operating time (min) was significantly shorter at a 95% confidence level in ligasure group than the conventional suture group (p = 0.000). Operative blood loss (ml) and the reduction in hemoglobin level (gm/dL) were significantly lower in ligasure group in comparison to the conventional suture group (p = 0.000).The hospitalization (days) of ligasure group was also significantly lower than the conventional suture group (p= 0.002). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in major intra-operative and immediate postoperative complications, whereas, the pain score was significantly higher in the conventional suture group compared with ligasure group (p= 0.01). Conclusion: Ligasure vessel sealing system is a preferred and a safe alternative method when compared with the conventional suture ligation method in vaginal hysterectomy. It has the advantages of shorter operating time, reduced blood loss, less reduction level of hemoglobin, shorter time of hospitalization, and lower pain score.