Objective: Prospectively to compare lymphatic drainage after ultrasonic dissection, an electrocoagulation technique and sharp dissection in the groin during surgery for recurrent sapheno-femoral incompetence.
Design: Prospective, randomised study comparing three surgical techniques.
Methods: Thirty-six consecutive patients undergoing surgery for recurrent sapheno-femoral incompetence were randomised. Twelve patients underwent dissection with ultrasound, 12 with electrocoagulation and 12 controls had sharp dissection with ligation of scar and lymphatic tissue using absorbable suture material.
Results: The mean drain output per patient was 13.5 ml in the ultrasonic group, 15.4 ml in the electrocoagulation group and 8.3 ml in the suture ligation group. Six minor cases of lymphatic leakage occurred in the ultrasonic group. This resulted in no clinical problem. There were no other significant differences between the three groups.
Conclusions: There is no detectable advantage for the use of ultrasound or electrocoagulation in recurrent saphenous high ligation compared to sharp dissection.