Bleeding control is a critical component of head and neck procedures, including parotidectomy, thyroidectomy, and neck dissection. These surgeries often involve working in vascular anatomical planes near vital structures such as nerves, salivary glands, and major vessels. Effective hemostasis supports operative efficiency, maintains visualization, and helps protect surrounding anatomy.
Surgeons utilize a variety of techniques to manage bleeding during these procedures.
Techniques Surgeons Use to Control Bleeding
Hemostatic Instruments
Hemostats, forceps, and ligating instruments remain foundational tools in head and neck surgery. Their precision and ability to apply focused pressure are valuable when navigating delicate tissue planes and vessels.
Hemostatic Agents and Tranexamic Acid
Topical hemostatic agents and systemic options such as tranexamic acid may be used to support clot stability. In select head and neck surgeries, tranexamic acid has been shown in the literature to help reduce intraoperative blood loss through clot-preservation mechanisms. (citations 1-3)
Electrocautery
Electrocautery is frequently used to support hemostasis by delivering energy to coagulate tissue. It assists surgeons in managing vascularity while progressing through dissection planes.
Thermal Scalpel Technology in Head & Neck Procedures
Shaw Scalpel®
The Shaw Scalpel® utilizes controlled thermal energy at its blade to simultaneously incise and coagulate. The blade heats to a consistent temperature (up to 300 °C), and unlike monopolar cautery, it does not pass electrical current through tissue.
In parotidectomy, thyroidectomy, neck dissection, and other soft-tissue procedures, this technology can support surgeons in:
- Performing precise sharp dissection
- Achieving hemostasis by sealing small vessels as they are cut
- Maintaining a clear operative field
- Navigating anatomy where thermal spread and nerve proximity are considerations
These characteristics may be particularly useful in procedures near the facial nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, and associated vascular structures. (citations 4-6)
Learn More
The Shaw Scalpel is used by surgeons across multiple specialties for procedures where fine dissection and tissue sparing are priorities. If you would like to learn more about its applications in head and neck surgery, connect with our team — we’d be happy to share educational resources and facilitate product evaluation where appropriate.
1.Alberti LR, Silveira CRW, Cruz RA, et al.
A systematic review on the efficacy of tranexamic acid in head and neck surgery.
Auris Nasus Larynx. 2023;50(2):230-237.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37042081/
2.Mishra A, Singh VP, Singhal P, et al.
Evaluating the role of topical tranexamic acid in neck dissection: a prospective randomized study.
Clin Surg Res Commun. 2020;4(3):28-32. https://journals.lww.com/crst/fulltext/2020/03030/evaluating_the_role_of_topical_tranexamic_acid_in.9.aspx
3.Ker K, Prieto-Merino D, Roberts I.
Tranexamic acid and prevention and treatment of bleeding.
Thromb J. 2021;19(1):54.
https://thrombosisjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12959-021-00303-9
4.Shaw J, Panje WR.
Use of the Shaw scalpel in head and neck surgery.
Laryngoscope. 1981;91(9 Pt 1):1549-1558.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6793957/
5. Shaw J, Panje WR.
The Shaw Scalpel: Thermal control of surgical bleeding.
J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1986;44(7):528-532.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300978586800643
6.Vargas H, et al.
Experimental study on recurrent laryngeal nerve function with thermal scalpel application.
Gland Surg. 2021;10(3):1193-1200.
https://gs.amegroups.org/article/view/51703/html