The study was conducted at Paijat-Hame Central Hospital in Lahti, Finland by Drs. Juha Silvola, Aarre Salonen, Jouko Nieminen and Hannu Kokki. Silvola and his colleagues conducted a single-blind, randomized clinical trial with two parallel patient groups to evaluate whether tissue welding may improve recovery following tonsillectomy.
The trial included 60 healthy adult day-surgery patients, 31 of whom underwent tonsillectomies with Starion’s ENTceps, which features the company’s tissue welding technology, and 29 who underwent the procedure with a monopolar electrocautery device. The researchers recorded intraoperative events and short- and long-term recovery for two weeks post-operatively.
For the patients who underwent tonsillectomies with Starion’s ENTceps, researchers found that recovery was significantly faster, the duration of post-operative pain was two days shorter, normal daily activities were less affected, there was a lower incidence of post-operative bleeding, there was less need for hospital contact following discharge and patient satisfaction was significantly higher compared to patients in the monopolar electrocautery group. Furthermore, while three patients in the electrocautery group developed secondary hemorrhage and required electrocautery to control the bleeding, no patients in the ENTceps group experienced this post-operative complication.
The researchers concluded that Starion’s tissue welding technology provided an earlier return to normal activities and less affected sleep patterns compared with electrocautery tonsillectomy. They noted that if subsequent large studies confirm that tissue welding is associated with fewer bleeding complications after surgery, the technique “could be considered as a significant innovation in the field of ENT surgery.”
The study, Tissue welding tonsillectomy provides an enhanced recovery compared to that after monopolar electrocautery technique in adults: a prospective randomized clinical trial, which was published in the February 2011 edition of the journal, can be found on the publisher’s website: http://www.springerlink.com/content/n587560t1322g525/
About Starion Instruments
Starion Instruments™ Corp, a Microline Surgical company, develops advanced surgical devices that enhance performance, minimize risk and improve patient outcomes. Starion’s instruments employ a patented Tissue Welding technology that seals and divides soft tissue with only focused heat and pressure. Known for their effectiveness, reliability and versatility, Starion’s products are used worldwide for open and endoscopic cardiac, gynecology, general surgery, otolaryngology and urology procedures. For more information, visit www.starioninstruments.com.
About Microline Surgical
Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, Microline Surgical, Inc. is a leading U.S. medical device manufacturer of high quality reposable surgical laparoscopic instruments. Founded in 1987, Microline is a wholly owned subsidiary of HOYA Corporation (7741:TSE) in Tokyo, Japan, a $4.5 billion company with approximately half of its revenues from medical business including endoscopy and eye care. Microline’s integrated modular laparoscopic instrumentation system consists of a selection of reusable handpieces that utilize a broad assortment of disposable tips. This concept allows for surgical efficiency and cost effectiveness to be preserved at all times. The company’s patented product portfolio comprises cutting, dissecting, grasping, cauterizing and ligating instruments used in all laparoscopic surgical procedures. For more information, visit www.microlinesurgical.com
