Comparison of Effectiveness of Scalpel and Diathermy for Abdominal Skin Incisions

Abstract

Background: Skin incisions are typically made using a scalpel, which causes greater pain and blood loss. The introduction of surgical diathermy mitigated the inherent drawbacks of scalpels, such as unclear tissue planes and lack of hemostasis, extended operating time, the danger of infection from the use of foreign material (ligature) in the wound, and the potential for unintentional harm in the operating room. Objective: The objective of study was to compare diathermy and scalpel for abdominal skin incisions in terms of mean blood loss, post operative pain and time of incision. Study Design: Randomized control trial. Settings: Surgical Units of Allied Hospital, Faisalabad Pakistan. Duration: Six months from 01-01-2021 to 30-06-2021. Methods: 80 patients presented to the allied hospital were studied after taking verbal consents and surgical details were taken from the surgeons and their operation notes. Results: In this study, 2.5% (n=1) were between 15-20 years, 27.5% (n=11) were between 21-30 years, 25.0% (n=10) between 31-40 years, and 27.5% (n=11) were between 41-50 years and 17.5% (n=7) were between 51-60 years of age in group A (scalpel group). In Group B (diathermy group), 5.0% (n=2) were between 15-20 years, 17.5% (n=7) were between 21-30 years, 32.5% (n=13) were in 31-40 years, 22.5% (n=9) between 41-50 years, and 22.5% (n=9) were among 51-60 years of age. 35% (n=14) were males, while 65% (n=26) were females in group A (scalpel group). In group B (diathermy group), 37.5% (n=15) were males, while 62.5% (n=25) were females. Conclusion: We concluded that the effectiveness of diathermy for abdominal skin incisions is better than scalpel as there is significantly decreased time of incisions, decreased blood loss, and decreased postoperative pain. So, diathermy can be routinely used for making abdominal skin incisions.