OBJECTIVE: To assess the hemostasis and healing of the hepatic parenchyma after segmental hepatectomy, using a dry electrocautery or an electrocautery greased with lidocaine gel, neomycin pomade, glycerin lotion, or a vaseline pomade. METHODS: Rabbits were submitted to partial hepatectomy and divided into six groups of 10 animals each: Group 1: untreated; Group 2: treated with a dry electrocautery; Group 3: treated with an electrocautery greased with lidocaine gel; Group 4: with neomycin pomade; Group 5: with glycerine lotion; Group 6: with vaseline pomade. Resected liver weight, bleeding volume and time spent to achieve hemostasis were determined. Five rabbits from each group were re-operated upon after 24 hours and five after 7 days in order to obtain a biopsy of the hepatic wound and to explore he abdominal cavity. Red blood cell levels and markers of hepatic function and injury were determined before surgery and before re-operation. RESULTS: Lidocaine gel and glycerine lotion reduced the bleeding volume and the time to achieve hemostasis and conducted the thermal energy of the electrocautery, causing hydropic cell degeneration after 24 hours and deeper necrosis of hepatic tissue after 7 days. All substances increased the aminotransferase concentrations. These values returned to normal after a maximum of seven days. CONCLUSION: The electrocautery coated with lidocaine gel and glycerine lotion were the most effective methods for the hemostasis of hepatic parenchyma.
Hepatectomy; Hemostasis, Surgical; Electrocoagulation; Lidocaine; Glycerine
