Ultrasonically activated scalpel versus monopolar electrocautery shovel in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

Table 1 Demographic data of ES and US groups (n= 20, %)

Parameters	ES group	US group	χ2 or t	P
Mean age (yr)	59.2 ± 12.6	58.8 ± 14.9	0.080	0.937
Gender
Male	14 (70)	11 (55)
Female	6 (30)	09 (45)	0.960	0.327
Distance from tumor to anal margin
5-10 cm	13 (65)	12 (60)
> 10 cm	7 (35)	8 (40)	0.107	0.744
Dukes’ stage
A, B	7 (35)	9 (45)
C	13 (65)	11 (55)	0.417	0.519

Table 2 Comparison of surgical safety and postoperative recovery (n= 20, mean ± SD)

Parameters	ES group	US group	χ2 or t	P
WBC counts (× 109/L)
Preoperative	5.37 ± 0.84	5.55 ± 0.76	0.693	0.493
Postoperative d1	12.77 ± 2.32	12.17 ± 1.89	0.898	0.375
Postoperative d3	7.93 ± 2.15	7.57 ± 1.66	0.590	0.559
Operation time (min)	184.5 ± 28.3	173.7 ± 28.5	1.206	0.235
Blood loss (mL)	60.8 ± 41.8	48.9 ± 28.3	1.069	0.296
Anal exhaust time (h)	33.7 ± 5.9	31.8 ± 6.8	0.963	0.431
Pelvic drainage volume (mL)
Postoperative d1	90.5 ± 27.1	81.9 ± 39.7	0.796	0.431
Postoperative d3	5.4 ± 4.6	5.7 ± 4.9	0.198	0.844
VAS
Postoperative d1	5.54 ± 1.37	5.21 ± 1.17	0.805	0.426
Postoperative d3	2.44 ± 1.04	2.27 ± 1.10	0.504	0.617
Anastomotic leakage (n)	1	1	0.00	1.00
Wound infection (n)	1	1	0.00	1.00