Comparison of Harmonic scalpel and Ligasure devices in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is one of the most preferred bariatric procedures in the world for surgical treatment of morbid obesity. The Harmonic scalpel (HS) and LigaSure (LS) are the most commonly used devices in laparoscopic surgery. As far as we know, there is no comparative study of the two energy devices in LRYGB for morbid obesity. AIM: To compare the intraoperative performances of the two energy devices in LRYGB for morbid obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The HS and LS were used in 43 and 42 cases, respectively. The patient demographics of both groups were comparable. The duration of the procedures (gastric pouch creation time and total operation time), quantity of bleeding (during gastric pouch creation and total quantities of bleeding) and the number of pneumoperitoneum desufflations due to smoking that impaired sight fields were recorded prospectively. RESULTS: Gastric pouch creation time (HS: 22.5 ±9.5 vs. LS: 19.5 ±9.7 min, p = 0.15), bleeding during gastric pouch preparation (HS: 15.3 ±30.5 vs. LS: 17.5 ±31.3 ml, p = 0.74), total operation time (HS: 183.2 ±47 vs. LS: 165.3 ±37.1 min, p = 0.06) and total bleeding (HS: 110 ±195.5 vs. LS: 102.5 ±70 ml, p = 0.81) were similar in the two groups. Only the mean number of pneumoperitoneum desufflations due to smoking was lower in the HS group (HS: 0.28 ±0.49 vs. LS: 0.57 ±0.78, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The HS and LS performed similarly in LRYGB, with fewer desufflations from smoking in the HS group.