Comparison of electrocautery and scalpel for blood loss and postoperative pain in Pfannenstiel incisions in recurrent cesarean sections: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Limited data is available on the use of cold-scalpel and electrocautery blades in Cesarean delivery (CD) operations. This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare their use for subcutaneous incisions in terms of blood loss and postoperative pain in women undergoing repeat CD. Methods...

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Main Authors: Eser Ağar, Gökhan Karakoç
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IMR Press 2021-06-01
Series:Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/48/3/10.31083/j.ceog.2021.03.2341
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author Eser Ağar
Gökhan Karakoç
author_facet Eser Ağar
Gökhan Karakoç
author_sort Eser Ağar
collection DOAJ
description Background: Limited data is available on the use of cold-scalpel and electrocautery blades in Cesarean delivery (CD) operations. This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare their use for subcutaneous incisions in terms of blood loss and postoperative pain in women undergoing repeat CD. Methods: A total of 149 women scheduled for elective CD underwent spinal anesthesia, Pfannenstiel transverse skin incision with a cold-scalpel blade, and subsequent subcutaneous incisions until the peritoneum with a cold-scalpel or electrocautery blade. Perioperative blood loss and postoperative pain were evaluated. Results: The groups were similar in terms of maternal age, physical characteristics, and gestational age. The electrocautery group recorded significantly less blood loss and pain at the postoperative 6th and 12th hours. No significant correlation was found between blood loss or pain and women’s physical characteristics or gestational age. Discussion: Perioperative and postoperative pain associated with CD is one of the predominant causes of anxiety in mothers. This study demonstrated that the use of electrocautery for subcutaneous incisions was associated with lower blood loss and lower postoperative pain compared to the cold-scalpel incisions in pregnant women undergoing repeat C-sections with Pfannenstiel incision. The study supports the recently shifting trend regarding the use of electrocautery instead of the scalpel.
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spelling doaj.art-e7ff255ba17240acb61094fc0d4cd7e92022-12-22T03:22:51ZengIMR PressClinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology0390-66632021-06-0148353453910.31083/j.ceog.2021.03.2341S0390-6663(21)00133-0Comparison of electrocautery and scalpel for blood loss and postoperative pain in Pfannenstiel incisions in recurrent cesarean sections: a randomized controlled trialEser Ağar0Gökhan Karakoç1Department of Operating Room Services, Vocational School of Health Services, İstanbul Gelişim University, 34310 İstanbul, TurkeyModel Statistics Center, 38015 Kocasinan, Kayseri, TurkeyBackground: Limited data is available on the use of cold-scalpel and electrocautery blades in Cesarean delivery (CD) operations. This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare their use for subcutaneous incisions in terms of blood loss and postoperative pain in women undergoing repeat CD. Methods: A total of 149 women scheduled for elective CD underwent spinal anesthesia, Pfannenstiel transverse skin incision with a cold-scalpel blade, and subsequent subcutaneous incisions until the peritoneum with a cold-scalpel or electrocautery blade. Perioperative blood loss and postoperative pain were evaluated. Results: The groups were similar in terms of maternal age, physical characteristics, and gestational age. The electrocautery group recorded significantly less blood loss and pain at the postoperative 6th and 12th hours. No significant correlation was found between blood loss or pain and women’s physical characteristics or gestational age. Discussion: Perioperative and postoperative pain associated with CD is one of the predominant causes of anxiety in mothers. This study demonstrated that the use of electrocautery for subcutaneous incisions was associated with lower blood loss and lower postoperative pain compared to the cold-scalpel incisions in pregnant women undergoing repeat C-sections with Pfannenstiel incision. The study supports the recently shifting trend regarding the use of electrocautery instead of the scalpel.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/48/3/10.31083/j.ceog.2021.03.2341electrocauterycesarean sectionpostoperative painblood losspfannenstiel incision
spellingShingle Eser Ağar
Gökhan Karakoç
Comparison of electrocautery and scalpel for blood loss and postoperative pain in Pfannenstiel incisions in recurrent cesarean sections: a randomized controlled trial
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology
electrocautery
cesarean section
postoperative pain
blood loss
pfannenstiel incision
title Comparison of electrocautery and scalpel for blood loss and postoperative pain in Pfannenstiel incisions in recurrent cesarean sections: a randomized controlled trial
title_full Comparison of electrocautery and scalpel for blood loss and postoperative pain in Pfannenstiel incisions in recurrent cesarean sections: a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Comparison of electrocautery and scalpel for blood loss and postoperative pain in Pfannenstiel incisions in recurrent cesarean sections: a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of electrocautery and scalpel for blood loss and postoperative pain in Pfannenstiel incisions in recurrent cesarean sections: a randomized controlled trial
title_short Comparison of electrocautery and scalpel for blood loss and postoperative pain in Pfannenstiel incisions in recurrent cesarean sections: a randomized controlled trial
title_sort comparison of electrocautery and scalpel for blood loss and postoperative pain in pfannenstiel incisions in recurrent cesarean sections a randomized controlled trial
topic electrocautery
cesarean section
postoperative pain
blood loss
pfannenstiel incision
url https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/48/3/10.31083/j.ceog.2021.03.2341
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