Is Electrosurgical Vessel Sealing for Vaginal Hysterectomy Advantageous?

Vaginal hysterectomy, when feasible, is preferred over the abdominal route due to shorter hospital stays, less pain, fewer complications, and lower cost; however, limited surgical exposure can be problematic. In a manufacturer-supported randomized trial involving 100 women undergoing vaginal hysterectomies for benign indications, electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealing was compared with conventional clamping and suturing. Gynecologists and residents at eight teaching hospitals in the Netherlands who had little or no prior experience in vaginal vessel-sealing techniques performed the procedures after receiving extensive training on use of the vessel-sealing device; patients and postoperative care providers were blinded to technique. Self-repo…