**8. Conclusion**

**Group 1 Group 2**

**Group 1 Group 2**

Minimum 2 2 Mean 4.09 4.61 Maximum 17.00 19.00 Median 3.00 4.00 Standard deviation 2.95 3.21

Low pitched voice 3 4 Haematoma 2 4

The evaluation of postoperative analgesia was performed by measuring the dose of analgesic drugs administered to each patient. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test had been applied considering that the two groups did not have a Gaussian distribution (because of a maximal value of 17 days observed in the LigaSure-group and a maximal value of 19 days identified in the conventional group). The mean period of analgesia in group 1 was 2.5 days (range 1–16 days), while in group 2, it was 3 days (range: 2–19 days). There was no statistically significant difference between the period of analgesic drug requirement in the two groups

No patients developed manifestations of hypocalcemia (hypoparathyroidism). There were few patients who experienced a change in voice (low pitched voice) seen in three patients from group 1 and in four patients in group 2. Hematoma was observed in two patients belonging to group 1 and in four patients belonging to group 2. There is no statistic significant difference between the incidence of early postoperative complications in the two groups (**Table 7**).

Recently, thyroid surgery is considered quite safe, thanks to the proper surgical techniques

The introduction of the new sealing devices in thyroid surgery benefits both patients and the surgeons. LigaSure™ small jaw is a proper device used to perform total complete thyroidectomy, and it gives some technical advantages like: creates a clean surgical field providing better visibility, observed in other study [18]; no need to expose the vascular pedicles their dissection being possible using the device's forceps; reduces the operative time, also observed by Gac, Cabane and Hou Shan Yao [19, 20]; performs safe sealing of blood vessels, observed

**Table 6.** Distribution of patients depending on length of hospitalization.

**Table 7.** Complications in the two groups.

that kept complications at a minimum rate (2–3%) [17].

(p = 0.06).

104 Cancer Survivorship

**7. Discussion**

Total and "complete" thyroidectomy represents a feasible technique in our days.

In our opinion, based on the results, this technique can be considered safe.

Using the vessel sealing devices brings real benefits both for patients and surgeons.

In surgical services that do not have assisted video surgery, this technique can be considered "gold standard" in selected cases.
