Axillary lymph node dissection with ultracision harmonic scalpel in breast cancer        LIU Qian, YE Jing-ming, LIU Yin-hua. Breast Disease Center, Department of General Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
Corresponding author: LIU Yin-hua, E-mail：liuyinhua@medmail.com.cn
Abstract    Objective    Evaluate the use of ultracision harmonic scalpel in axillary lymph node dissection in mastectomy of breast cancer. Methods    During September 2009 to December 2010, thirty breast cancer patients received mastectomy and axillary dissection with ultracision harmonic scalpel, the drainage duration, total volume of drainage, and other clinical factors were observed and compared with the control group which received the procedure by monopolar electro diathermy. The two groups of patients were operated by the same surgeon. Results    Axillary drainage duration in ultracision harmonic scalpel group is shorter than the control group(11.4 vs.15.7 day, P=0.029), while there is no differences between operation time, hemorrhage, number of axillary lymph node dissected and total volume of axillary drainage in the two groups. Conclusion    Compared to monopolar electro diathermy, the use of ultracision harmonic scalpel in axillary lymph node dissection in mastectomy of breast cancer is safe and can shorten the drainage duration.