Sutureless Thyroidectomy vs Conventional Thyroidectomy: A Comparative Study

Surgery for thyroid is associated with complications of bleeding, injury to Recurrent and superior Laryngeal nerves and parathyroid injury. Some of these complications can cause life crippling consequences. With advent of modern energy devices like ultrasonic coagulation and bipolar vessel sealers haemostasis has become easier and quicker. A prospective comparative study was done with 15 cases of each of sutureless vs conventional (suture ligation technique) in open thyroidectomy. All cases were multinodular goitres requiring hemi or total thyroidectomy. Energy device used was bipolar vessel sealer Ligasure. Study show less bleeding 35ml vs 60ml average. Decreased operating time of 70 vs 96 minutes is noted. Postoperative complications of injury to laryngeal nerves and parathyroids is less. This is a small group study with encouraging reports in favour of sutureless thyroidectomy with bipolar vessel sealer.