Abubakar Mshelia Saidu a,*, Chidubem Christiana Noaha, Jamila Audu Idrisab, Abubakar Malgwi Harunaa, AbdulBasid Salihu Zarmaa Abdul Rasheed Yusuf Kidaa
aDepartment of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, University of Maiduguri, 1069 Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria
bDepartment of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
*Corresponding author’s Email: abubakarsm51@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.02010093
ABSTRACT
The choice between scalpel and electrocautery for surgical incisions involves a critical trade-off: precision with blood loss versus haemostasis with thermal injury. This study compared the systemic haematological effects of these techniques in a murine model, with all surgical wounds receiving topical metronidazole to model a pragmatic clinical practice. Sixty-five mice were divided into scalpel incision (Group A, n = 30), electrocautery incision (Group B, n=30), and non surgical control (Group C, n = 5) groups. Haematological parameters were assessed pre-surgery, immediately post-surgery; 0 hours and post surgery; 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, week-1, and week-2. Electrocautery incisions induced a significant early rise in packed cell volume (PCV) at 72 hours, indicating haemoconcentration, followed by a decline by week two. Neutrophil responses were delayed and prolonged in this group, suggesting sustained inflammation. Conversely, scalpel incisions elicited an earlier neutrophil mobilization and a more rapid lymphocyte recovery, reflecting a different immune engagement. Scalpel incisions were associated with a haematological profile indicative of acute blood loss but promoted rapid adaptive repair. In contrast, electrocautery achieved haemostasis while inducing a prolonged inflammatory state, potentially delaying systemic recovery. These findings highlight that haematological parameters act as a systemic biosignature for the type of surgical injury. The evidence suggests instrument selection should consider desired postoperative immune and haematological outcomes, with electrocautery mitigating bleeding at the cost of a more demanding recovery, and the scalpel potentially facilitating a more efficient recovery trajectory despite perioperative blood loss.
Surgical incision,
Scalpel,
Electrocautery,
Haematology.
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