Pilot study on inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy by sealing device – Ilsede study
Abstract
Objective:
Our objective was to evaluate the impact of the use of a sealing device during inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy on the reduction of postoperative complications.
Methods:
A single-institution, prospective, nonrandomized study was carried out. Fifteen patients with vulvar cancer underwent wide excision and inguinal lymphadenectomy between May 2017 and April 2019. Five patients underwent lymphadenectomy with a bipolar sealing device, whereas the remaining 10 patients received the standard procedure. Postoperative complications including wound infection, seroma, and lymphedema were selected as the primary outcome.
Results:
Patients who underwent surgery using a sealing device showed significantly lower wound infection rate (0 cases, 0%) compared with patients who underwent the standard procedure (7 cases, 70%; P = 0.026). Incidence of seroma and lymphedema did not show statistically significant differences between groups.
Conclusions:
The use of a sealing device to perform the inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy in vulvar cancer could reduce the rate of wound infection compared with the standard procedure.