Purpose: The aims of this randomized clinical trial are to assess and compare 3 different outcomes in women undergoing breast reduction surgery using two different surgical devices: the Harmonic Scalpel and electrocautery. The three metrics are: 1. the time taken to complete the operation 2. drainage volume in the days immediately following surgery, 3. patient pain in the days immediately following surgery.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
31
harmonic scalpel used to reduce breast on this side
Electrocautery used to reduce breast on this side
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States
Time for Operation
Time to complete the breast reduction per breast.
Time frame: day of surgery
Volume of Drainage in Surgical Drains
An index was created to allow comparison between patients whose drain indwell times were different. This was created by taking total volume of drainage per breast drain and dividing it by the number of hours the drain was in place. The units are milliliters per hour.
Time frame: within one week of surgery
Pain Level in Surgical Sites
An 11-point visual analog scale was used to obtain subjective pain levels from patients. 0 being no pain and 10 being worst pain imaginable.
Time frame: first week after surgery
Hematoma
A collection of blood or uncontrolled bleeding that necessitates a return to the operating room in the first day after surgery.
Time frame: first day after surgery
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