USEFULNESS OF BIPOLAR SCISSORS FOR TOTAL COLECTOMY

PURPOSE: Total colectomy is frequently used in colorectal surgery. We evaluated the usefulness of bipolar scissors in this operation, METHOD S: Twenty patients with ulcerative colitis underwent total colectomy a t Hyogo College Hospital. Bipolar scissors were used in ten randomly c hosen colectomies. The resected major vessels of the colonic mesentery were stained by hematoxylin and eosin. The bursting pressure of the a rtery weld was measured with a water-filled, open-tip catheter. RESULT S: Both number of ligations and operating time were reduced by use of bipolar scissors. The cut edge of the major artery was occluded by the weld created, with a mean bursting pressure of 213 (range, 175-250) m mHg. CONCLUSION: Use of bipolar scissors was safe and had the advantag e of shortening the operating time by decreasing the number of clampin g and Ligating procedures.