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Use of the Harmonic Scalpel in Neck Dissection

NCT00875953 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 34

Last updated 2010-12-14

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Neck dissection is the main technique used by head and neck surgeons to treat known or suspected metastatic cancer to the neck. The traditional radical neck dissection was effective at treating metastatic cancer to the neck however the downside to this technique was significant morbidity. Since the early 1960's there has been several proposed techniques to treat metastatic head and neck cancer that involves preserving important anatomical structures in the neck. The disadvantage to these techniques are that they require meticulous dissection and can lead to bleeding and an increase in operative time. One particular tool that has been proposed in other surgical subspecialties, including head and neck surgery, is the harmonic scalpel. Using this tool, tissue dissection and vessel occlusion at the same time can occur with a reduced thermal damage to the surrounding tissue when compared to traditional cautery. In this study, our purpose is to determine if the harmonic scalpel will lead to a decrease in blood loss and operative time in patients undergoing a modified radical neck dissection compared to electrocautery.

Hypothesis: Use of the harmonic scalpel as a surgical adjunct will reduce operative time for neck dissection and will reduce intraoperative blood loss.

Conditions

  • Neck Dissection

Interventions

PROCEDURE

standard neck dissection

standard surgical technique

PROCEDURE

Harmonic Scalpel Dissection

harmonic scalpel used for neck dissection after flaps are raised.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Calgary

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Joseph C Dort, BSc, MSc, MD · University of Calgary - Faculty of Medicine

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2009-01-31
Primary Completion
2010-09-30
Completion
2010-12-31

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00875953 on ClinicalTrials.gov