Objective: To compare diathermy versus scalpel incisions for midline laparotomy in terms of mean blood loss, mean incision related time, frequency of postoperative wound infection, and mean postoperative pain.
Methodology: This randomized clinical trial was carried out at Department of General Surgery at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad and included 176 patients who underwent midline laparotomy. Patients were randomized to two groups; those who received incision with diathermy were placed in group A, and those who received incision with scalpel in group B. Variables analyzed were mean blood loss, mean incision related time, frequency of postoperative wound infection, and mean postoperative pain.
Results: Each group had 88 patients with mean age was 39.8±12.4 years and 41.9±10.5 years in group A and B, respectively. Majority of the patients in both groups were male. Postoperative infection was comparable in both groups. Mean incision related time in group A was 6.3±0.9 seconds and 7.2±2.1 seconds in group B (p
Key words: Diathermy incision, laparotomy, scalpel.
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