Monopolar electrosurgery on the extrahepatic bile ducts during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an experimental controlled trial.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to investigate the occurrence of thermal injury in the extrahepatic bile ducts when monopolar electrosurgery is used to perform dieresis of the cystic duct and cystic vessels in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: Female pigs (n=40) of the Large White breed were separated into 2 groups of 20 animals. In the experimental groups, dieresis of the cystic duct and cystic vessels was performed with monopolar electrosurgery using a hook-like dissector using a power setting of 20 W, whereas in the control group this procedure was performed with a pair of Metzenbaum scissors disconnected from any kind of thermal energy source.