05-Nov-2024
Electrocautery vs Scalpel for Skin Incisions: A Comparative Study
Electrocautery, while widely used in surgery, is less common for skin incisions due to concerns about tissue damage, post-operative pain, and infection. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of electrocautery to traditional scalpels for skin incisions in elective surgeries.
Methods:
Two hundred patients were randomly assigned to either electrocautery (Group A) or scalpel (Group B) for skin incision during elective surgeries. Incision time, blood loss, and post-operative wound complications were compared between the groups. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square and unpaired t-tests.
Results:
Electrocautery resulted in significantly less blood loss and shorter incision times compared to scalpel incisions, without increasing the risk of wound complications.
Conclusion:
While both methods yielded similar outcomes, electrocautery offers a safe, efficient, and readily available alternative for skin incisions. Further larger-scale studies are recommended to confirm its reliability and potential benefits.