DOI: 10.21276/sasjs.2019.5.1.10

Pages: 40-43

An incision is a cut or slit to gain access to underlying tissue. Surgeons have been in search for ideal methods of skin incisions which will provide quick and adequate exposure with minimal blood loss. Traditionally incisions are made with scalpel. Many techniques have come up recently like electrocautery, laser, plasma scalpel, electron surgical aspirator. The aim of the study is to compare effectiveness of stainless steel scalpel and electrocautery on abdominal skin incisions. The Study compared electrocautery incisions with the traditional scalpel incisions for abdominal operations. Two groups of 43 patients each were compared prospectively. In one of them electrocautery was used for incisions and in another traditional scalpel was used and Parameters measured included time needed to complete the incision with all necessary haemostasis, early post operative pain, wound complications like Infection and scar character. Electrocautery was found quicker to scalpel in making incisions, associated with less pain. Two groups did not differ much with respect to wound complications and cosmesis. Electrocautery can be used as an alternative to scalpel for making incisions with advantages of less time, less post operative pain without affecting wound healing, incidence of wound infection and cosmesis.