Electrocautery Devices Research Articles

Adverse events related to suction electrocautery devices in adenotonsillectomy: Analysis of the MAUDE database

ObjectiveTo identify adverse events (AEs) related to suction electrocautery use during adenotonsillectomy. MethodsThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database was searched using the terms “suction cautery,” “suction electrocautery,” “suction Bovie,” and “suction coagulator” from January 2014 to December 2023. Results165 AE reports were gathered from the MAUDE database medical device reports (MDRs). 36 met inclusion criteria. Patient injuries were found in 22 (61.1 %) reports and device malfunction events were found in 14 (38.9 %) reports. All patient injuries were thermal burns (N = 22, 100 %). Location of burn injuries included the lip (N = 6, 27.3 %), oral commissure (N = 5, 22.7 %), and tongue (N = 4, 18.2 %). The most common cause of an AE was inadequate device insulation (N = 7, 19.4 %). ConclusionThe suction electrocautery apparatus may malfunction and cause patient burn injuries. Device failures mainly result from inadequate device insulation, coagulation problems, and detachment of device components. Surgeons must be aware of these potential complications and counsel parents and patients regarding AEs.

Safety and feasibility of cystic artery control with bipolar electrocauterization during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background Securing the cystic artery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be achieved with clips, electrocautery, and ultramodern vessel-sealing energy devices. Bipolar electrocoagulation of cystic artery is safe and a cost-effective measure in developing countries. Patients and methods The rationale of this current prospective study was to establish the safety and feasibility of bipolar electrocautery in securing cystic artery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the local setting. Patients who were eligible for laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the Aswan University Hospital’s General Surgery Department were included. Results One hundred twenty patients were included in our study. Most of the participants were females, representing 93.33% of patients. The mean age of participants was 39.93±9.97 years, and 95.83% were overweight or obese. The mean±SD operative time was 88.57±28.06 min, and the median (interquartile range) was 84 min (33.25 min). Also, the mean±SD hospital stay was 1.12±0.57 days, and the median (interquartile range) was 1 (0) day. There was no intraoperative bleeding from the cystic artery nor from the right hepatic artery. No visceral injury was encountered. The success rate of the operation was 100%. None needed to be redone. No case needed conversion to open surgery. Conclusion In conclusion, in resource-constrained settings where the harmonic scalpel and all advanced bipolar instruments like ENSEAL and Legasure raise issues regarding cost and accessibility, bipolar diathermy is effective in hemostatic control of the cystic artery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Feasibility of intraoperative continuous glucose monitoring: An observational study in general surgery patients

BackgroundPerioperative hyperglycemia is associated with adverse outcomes in surgical patients, and major societies recommend intraoperative monitoring and treatment targeting glucose <180–200 mg/dL. However, compliance with these recommendations is poor, in part due to fear of unrecognized hypoglycemia. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) measure interstitial glucose with a subcutaneous electrode and can display the results on a receiver or smartphone. Historically CGMs have not been utilized for surgical patients. We investigated the use of CGM in the perioperative setting compared to current standard practices. MethodThis study evaluated the use of Abbott Freestyle Libre 2.0 and/or Dexcom G6 CGMs in a prospective cohort of 94 participants with diabetes mellitus undergoing surgery of ≥3 h duration. CGMs were placed preoperatively and compared to point of care (POC) BG checks obtained by capillary samples analyzed with a NOVA glucometer. Frequency of intraoperative blood glucose measurement was at the discretion of the anesthesia care team, with a recommendation of once per hour targeting BG of 140–180 mg/dL. Of those consented, 18 were excluded due to lost sensor data, surgery cancellation, or rescheduling to a satellite campus resulting in 76 enrolled subjects. There were zero occurrences of failure with sensor application. Paired POC BG and contemporaneous CGM readings were compared with Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, and Bland-Altman plots. ResultsData for use of CGM in perioperative period was analyzed for 50 participants with Freestyle Libre 2.0, 20 participants with Dexcom G6, and 6 participants with both devices worn simultaneously. Lost sensor data occurred in 3 participants (15%) wearing Dexcom G6, 10 participants wearing Freestyle Libre 2.0 (20%) and 2 of the participants wearing both devices simultaneously. The overall agreement of the two CGM's utilized had a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.731 in combined groups with 0.573 in Dexcom arm evaluating 84 matched pairs and 0.771 in Libre arm with 239 matched pairs. Modified Bland-Altman plot of the difference of CGM and POC BG indicated for the overall dataset a bias of −18.27 (SD 32.10). ConclusionsBoth Dexcom G6 and Freestyle Libre 2.0 CGMs were able to be utilized and functioned well if no sensor error occurred at time of initial warmup. CGM provided more glycemic data and further characterized glycemic trends more than individual BG readings. Required time of CGM warm up was a barrier for intraoperative use as well as unexplained sensor failure. CGMs had a fixed warm of time, 1 h for Libre 2.0 and 2 h for Dexcom G6 CGM, before glycemic data obtainable. Sensor application issues did not occur. It is anticipated that this technology could be used to improve glycemic control in the perioperative setting. Additional studies are needed to evaluate use intraoperatively and assess further if any interference from electrocautery or grounding devices may contribute to initial sensor failure. It may be beneficial in future studies to place CGM during preoperative clinic evaluation the week prior to surgery. Use of CGMs in these settings is feasible and warrants further evaluation of this technology on perioperative glycemic management.

Use of electrocautery devices for suture passage through the greater tuberosity: a biomechanical study.

The use of electrocautery to facilitate passage of a suture needle through bone without the aid of a drill or burr is a novel technique that has potential utility in orthopedic procedures, but there is a scarcity of research to support its utility. The specific aims of this cadaveric biomechanical study were to evaluate (1) the axial force reduction during suture passage using electrocautery when applied to rotator cuff repair, (2) the temperature change caused while using electrocautery, and (3) the failure loads and failure modes of this technique. Five matched pairs of fresh frozen humeri were used, classified into 2 groups: with electrocautery on needle (study group) and without electrocautery on needle (control group). Four individual osseous tunnels were made on the greater tuberosity around the insertion of the supraspinatus tendon. Each specimen was sequentially tested in 2 parts: a needle penetration test (part I) to measure the peak axial force and temperature change and a single load-to-failure test (part II) to measure the maximum load to failure as well as the mechanism of failure. A No. 2 FiberWire suture with a straight needle was used. In part I, the mean peak axial force was lower in the study group compared with the control group for all osseous tunnels but was not statistically significant for individual tunnels. However, there was a significant decrease in peak axial force in the study group of 36% compared with the control group overall (P=.033). There was no significant change in temperature of the tunnel site with the use of electrocautery (mean: 0.2±0.3°C, P=.435). In part II, 100% of the samples from each study group experienced bone tunnel failure. Forty percent of the trials in the study group found lower ultimate failure loads compared with the control group (reduction range: 7%-38%). There was no statistically significant difference in the ultimate failure load between either the loop tested or between the 2 study groups (loop 1: P=.352; loop 2: P=.270). Suture passage using electrocautery does significantly decrease the peak force needed to pass a needle directly through the greater tuberosity. This technique does not appear to burn the bone or weaken the bone tunnels. This technique may be useful during open rotator cuff repair or shoulder arthroplasty, although clinicians should be cautious when using this technique as its utility depends on bone quality and cortical thickness, and invivo results may differ.

Assessing visualization in robotic-assisted surgery: demystifying a misty lens.

Despite major technological advancements in robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RAS), there remain shortcomings yet to be addressed. This study assesses the prevalence of suboptimal vision in minimally invasive RAS and corresponding factors regarding related surgical conditions. 45 minimally invasive robotic surgeries, performed using Da Vinci XI, were observed across three surgical subspecialties: general, urology, and OB/GYN. Lens occlusion events were monitored and defined as the presence of a visual distortion caused by debris deposition on the scope lens. Lens occlusions and cleanings, and "active instrumentation" were recorded. Descriptive statistics summarized duration-based variables, and one-factor ANOVA compared the presence of active instrumentation. Cases averaged 127 ± 76min. Active instrumentation ANOVA during lens occlusions demonstrated significant variation between categories (F7, 256 = 11.63, p = 2.558e-13). Post hoc Tukey HSD found electrocautery devices were active significantly more during occlusion events (37.9%) than other instruments. On average, lens cleaning occurred every 36.5 ± 39.8min despite lens occlusion occurring every 24.5 ± 15.7min. Of the operative time observed, 41.4% ± 28.1% was conducted with visual distortion. 1.16% ± 0.97% of time observed was spent cleaning. Although only 1.16% of operative time was spent cleaning, surgeons experienced suboptimal conditions for nearly 35× the time it would take the clear lens, potentially indicating a tendency to avoid cleaning the lens to disrupt surgery. Future research may examine the impact of occluded visualization and lens cleaning on other aspects of surgery.

When the End Effector Is a Laser: A Review of Robotics in Laser Surgery

Combining laser technology with robotic precision and accuracy promises to introduce significant advances in minimally invasive surgical interventions. Lasers have already become a widespread tool in numerous surgical applications. They are proposed as a replacement for traditional tools (i.e., scalpels and electrocautery devices) to minimize surgical trauma, decrease healing times, and reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Compared to other energy sources, laser energy is wavelength‐dependent, allowing for preferential energy absorption in specific tissue types. This potentially leads to minimizing damage to healthy tissue and increasing surgical outcomes control and quality. Merging robotic control with laser techniques can help physicians achieve more accurate laser aiming and pave the way to automatic control of laser–tissue interactions in closed loop. Herein, a review of the state‐of‐the‐art robotic systems for laser surgery is presented. The goals of this paper are to present recent contributions in advanced intelligent systems for robot‐assisted laser surgery, provide readers with a better understanding of laser optics and the physics of laser–tissue interactions, discuss clinical applications of lasers in surgery, and provide guidance for future systems design.

First report of the histopathological effect of electrocautery using on the urethral taste rosea during glans penis injury by incision in rabbits

ObjectiveCurrently, electrocautery devices have frequently been used in penile surgical procedures. We hypothesized that electrocautery using during penile surgical procedures may harm the taste rosea and the dorsal nerve of the penis or clitoris. MethodsEighteen young age male New Zealand rabbits were studied: five in the control (Group I, n=5), five in the penile surgery without using electrocautery (sham group, Group II, n=5), eight in the monopolar cautery (study group, Group III, n=8) groups under general anesthesia. The animals were followed for 3 weeks and sacrificed. Penile tissue—pudendal nerve root complexes and dorsal root ganglion of sacral 3 level were examined using stereological methods. The results were compared statistically. ResultsThe live and degenerated taste bud-like structures and degenerated neuron densities of pudendal ganglia (mean±standard deviation, n/mm3) were estimated as 198±24/mm3, 4±1/mm3, and 5±1/mm3 in Group I; 8±3/mm3, 174±21/mm3, and 24±7/mm3 in Group II; and 21±5/mm3, 137±14/mm3, and 95±12/mm3 in Group III, respectively. Neurodegeneration of taste buds and pudendal ganglia was significantly different between groups. ConclusionIntact spinal cord and normal parasympathetic and thoracolumbar sympathetic networks are crucial for human sexual function. The present study indicates that the glans penis injury by using electrocautery may lead to pudendal ganglia degeneration. Iatrogenic damage to taste rosea and retrograde degeneration of the pudendal nerve may be the cause of sexual dysfunction responsible mechanism.

Influence of two different operating room ventilation systems on the surgical smoke exposure of surgeons

The intraoperative use of electrosurgical devices leads to the emission of surgical smoke, which is a proven health risk for operating room personnel. According to guidelines, either a unidirectional displacement flow system or mixed turbulent flow ventilation are recommended to reduce the surgical smoke exposure. However, the impact of the ventilation system on the particle concentration in clinical practice remains unclear. We performed a multicenter study and first investigated the turbulence intensity (for unidirectional displacement flow) and the recovery time (for mixed turbulent flow) in 15 operating rooms. Then, particle concentrations sized ≥0.3 μm were measured in the surgeons’ breathing zones and the 5th percentile, the mean, the 95th percentile, and the maximum concentration were determined. The average particle concentrations during 179 surgical procedures (unidirectional displacement flow: n = 87 surgeries; mixed turbulent flow: n = 92 surgeries; median time from skin incision to suture: 70 min; median electrocautery time: 24%/16.8 min) were 1.5 E+05/m³ (5th percentile), 1.7 E+06/m³ (mean), 2.5 E+07/m³ (95th percentile), and 2.1 E+08/m³ (maximum). Unidirectional displacement flow ventilation systems with turbulence intensities ≤5% decreased the particle concentration by a factor of 5.3 for the 5th percentile, 2.1 for the mean, 5.7 for the 95th percentile, and 6.6 for the maximum concentration compared to unidirectional displacement flow systems with turbulence intensities ≥20%. Furthermore, a turbulence intensity ≤5% reduced particles 15.5-times (5th percentile), 8.6-times (mean), 8.4-times (95th percentile), and 6.4-times (maximum) more effective than mixed turbulent flow ventilation. We concluded that the ventilation system has a relevant quantitative effect on the particle concentration, especially if electrocautery devices are used. A unidirectional displacement flow system with a turbulence intensity ≤5% reduced particles best, while mixed turbulent flow ventilation is not optimal for surgeries with surgical smoke release. Operating room personnel should be aware that even a short period of electrocautery application can cause high concentrations of surgical smoke particles. Thus, electrocautery devices should always be used with caution.

Guidelines in Practice: Electrosurgical Safety.

Surgeons routinely use electrosurgical devices to cut and coagulate tissue during surgical procedures. However, hazards associated with electrosurgery (eg, burns, electrical shock, fire) can place patients or personnel at risk. Perioperative nurses should standardize processes, preoperatively assess the risks for electrosurgical injuries, and participate in education activities on electrosurgical safety to help prevent injuries from occurring. The AORN "Guideline for electrosurgical safety" provides guidance to perioperative personnel for safe use of electrosurgical units, electrocautery devices, and argon-enhanced coagulators. This article discusses prevention of electrosurgical unit injuries, including those that can be caused by electrosurgical accessories. A scenario describes how a team investigating two incidents related to use of electrosurgery uses an assessment tool to identify risks for injury and includes a report of these risks in the surgical briefing. Perioperative RNs should review the entire guideline for additional information when creating and updating policies and procedures for electrosurgical safety.

The Thermal Safety Profile of a New Bipolar Vessel Sealing Device for Thyroid Surgery

Introduction: Bipolar electrocautery devices used to achieve intraoperative hemostasis carry risk of imparting thermal energy to adjacent tissue, leading to postoperative morbidity. The aim of this study was to compare a new vessel sealing device, the CoolSeal™ Reveal (Bolder Surgical, Louisville, Colorado), with an established industry standard device, the LigaSure™ Exact Dissector (Valleylab, Boulder, Colorado), to assess their safety and the extent to which they impart thermal damage to tissue during thyroid surgery. Materials and Methods: Vascular bundles associated with the thyroid gland in anesthetized sheep were exposed and sealed with a single activation of each device and excised en bloc. Additionally, vascular structures of the sheep were also sealed 0, 1, or 2mm adjacent to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). Vascular and RLN samples were processed for histopathologic evaluation and assessed for extent of thermal injury, seal width, and coagulative changes. Results: The mean thermal injury extent across all sample sizes and vessel types was significantly lower for the CoolSeal™ Reveal device (547.2 ± 27.9μm) compared to the LigaSure™ device (802.7± 48.6μm) (p&lt;0.001). Seal widths were significantly smaller in samples sealed with the CoolSeal™ Reveal device (899.0 ± 14.9μm) than samples sealed with the LigaSure™ device (1645.3 ± 160.3μm) (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The CoolSeal™ Reveal device demonstrates significantly lower thermal spread in vivo compared to the LigaSure™ Exact Dissector. These results indicate that the CoolSeal™ Reveal is an effective tool for sealing blood vessels and minimizing thermal damage to adjacent structures during delicate surgeries or in narrow surgical fields associated with the thyroid gland.

The Effect of the Design of Surgical Electrodes on the Formation of Sparking Enhanced Burns

Abstract Electrocautery is a safe and effective method of hemostasis during cutaneous surgery. Despite the unquestionable benefits, electrocautery sparks in the surgical field represent a significant fire risk that can be eliminated by clarifying the causation and conditions of their development. Apart from the experimental methods, computer modeling is proven to be an effective approach to improve the performance of electrocautery. This paper is dealing with the design of electrodes to prevent burns during standard procedures. Simulations were carried out by using the comsol simulation package for various electrode configurations (cylinder-cylinder, sphere-sphere, sphere-cylinder, and cylinder-sphere) representing shapes of surgical electrodes. The primary goal was to determine the location where sparking starts. The obtained simulation results agree well with the experimental data taken from the literature supporting that the sparking formation is strongly affected by the electrode configuration. It was found that sparking occurs most easily when both electrodes are cylindrical. Also, the sparking mechanism depends on electrical asymmetry that results in undesirable direct current burns. Results presented here can be used to establish practices for the safe use of the electrocautery devices and to prevent injury to patients and staff.

Bipolar cautery versus conventional suture ligation of vascular pedicles in thyroidectomy: a comparative clinical study

Background: Thyroidectomies are commonly performed surgeries worldwide. With better knowledge of anatomy and major advent of energy devices, morbidity of thyroidectomy has drastically declined. Two main globally followed procedures to deal with vascular pedicles are conventional suture ligation and electro cautery devices. The objectives of the present study are to compare classical suture ligation and bipolar cautery of vascular pedicles in thyroidectomy, in terms of duration of procedure, hospitalization and operative complications.Methods: Retrospective observational comparative study was conducted in 100 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy in our institution for a period of 3 years from 4 September 2017. Non random sampling techniques applied on all consecutive patients who are eligible according to the inclusion criteria. Patients divided into two groups used: suture ligation (n=50), bipolar cauterization (n=50). The main outcomes measured were surgical and hospitalization time; duration of wound drain and post-operative complications (hoarseness, hypocalcemia and seroma).Student t test (for quantitative) and Chi Squaretest (for qualitative) applied for analysis.Results: Post-operative complications are present more in the suture ligation group (66%) compared to bipolar cautery (24%). The procedure time in ligation is a 131.6±17.7 minutes which is, significantly higher compared to bipolar cautery (97±7.5 minutes). Duration of hospital stay is more in suture ligation (6±0.8 days) compared to bipolar cautery (4.9±1.3 days).Conclusions: As per our study, bipolar cauterization has significant reduction of surgery time, duration of hospital stay and postoperative complications viz seroma, hoarseness of voice, hypocalcemia compared to conventional suture ligation.

A comparison of the Thunderbeat and standard electrocautery devices in head and neck surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial

PurposeNew energy-based sutureless vessel ligation devices, such as the Thunderbeat (Olympus Medical Systems Corp., Tokyo, Japan), could reduce operative time and limit blood loss in head and neck surgery; however, efficacy and safety in major head and neck surgery have not been investigated in a prospective, randomized study.MethodsThis prospective, double-arm, randomized controlled trial consisted of two parts: total laryngectomy (TL) and neck dissection (ND). Thirty patients planned for TL were randomized in two groups. For the ND part, forty-two operative sides were likewise randomized. In both parts, Thunderbeat was used in addition to the standard instrumentation in the intervention groups, while only standard instrumentation was used in the control groups. Primary outcome values were blood loss, operative time and complication rate.ResultsFor the TL part there was no difference in mean blood loss (p = 0.062), operative time (p = 0.512) and complications (p = 0.662) between both hemostatic techniques. For the neck dissection part, there was a reduction in blood loss (mean 210 mL versus 431 mL, p = 0.046) and in operative time (median 101 (IQR 85–130) minutes versus 150 (IQR 130–199) minutes, p = 0.014) when Thunderbeat was used. There was no difference in complication rate between both hemostatic systems (p = 0.261).ConclusionThe Thunderbeat hemostatic device significantly reduces operative blood loss and operative time for neck dissections, without increase in complications. In TL, blood loss using Thunderbeat was comparable with the standard technique, but the operative time tended to be shorter.Trial registrationUMCG Research Register, Reg. no. 201700041, date of registration: 18/1/2017

Cost Effective Technique of Shoulder Arthroscopy Without the Use of Epinephrine in Irrigation Solution

Arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder joint and the subacromial space requires adequate visualization to be effectively performed. Visual clarity is essential to perform a safe and successful arthroscopic procedure. The major determinants to provide visualization in the subacromial space and the glenohumeral joint include adequate inflow (dependent on the dimension of the inflow cannula), flow rate versus pressure, pump system versus gravity, the use of electrocautery and radiofrequency devices, blood pressure control and hypotensive anesthesia, and the type of irrigation solution used with or without the use of epinephrine. In 2012, the cost of a 30-mL (30-mg) vial of epinephrine was $6 (adrenalin/epinephrine injection, USP, Par Pharmaceuticals), and approximately 3 to 4 bottles would be used on average for a single shoulder arthroscopy. In 2019, the same 30-mL bottle of epinephrine cost $237, a nearly 40-fold increase. The purpose of our study is to describe the various factors and techniques that can be used to maintain visual clarity in shoulder arthroscopy without the use of epinephrine in the irrigation solution and the cost savings associated without the use of epinephrine.

A How-to Guide: Suture Ligature Appendectomy

Study Objective This video is intended to review the relevant anatomy and procedural steps to a suture ligature appendectomy. We will also review the safety data on the use of staplers and mechanical devices as compared to suture ligatures. Design Instructional educational video. Setting Academic medical center. Patients or Participants This video describes the case of a patient with appendiceal endometriosis. Interventions The patient underwent a suture ligature appendectomy due to involvement of the appendix in ovarian fossa endometriosis. Measurements and Main Results A Cochrane review published in 2017 showed no difference in total, intraoperative, or postoperative complications between suture ligation and any type of mechanical device, including staplers, clips, or electrocautery devices. In addition, mechanical devices cost at least three-fold more than suture ligature-based methods but saved only 9 minutes of OR time. Conclusion A suture-ligation approach to appendectomy is a safe, low-cost, and simple intervention.

Electrocautery, Diathermy, and Surgical Energy Devices: Are Surgical Teams at Risk During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

The aim of the study was to provide a rapid synthesis of available data to identify the risk posed by utilizing surgical energy devices intraoperatively due to the generation of surgical smoke, an aerosol. Secondarily it aims to summarize methods to minimize potential risk to operating room staff. Continuing operative practice during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic places the health of operating theatre staff at potential risk. SARS-CoV2 is transmitted through inhaled droplets and aerosol particles, thus posing an inhalation threat even at considerable distance. Surgical energy devices generate an aerosol of biological particular matter during use. The risk to healthcare staff through use of surgical energy devices is unknown. This review was conducted utilizing a rapid review methodology to enable efficient generation and dissemination of information useful for concurrent clinical practice. There are conflicting stances on the use of energy devices and laparoscopy by different surgical governing bodies and societies. There is no definitive evidence that aerosol generated by energy devices may carry active SARS-CoV2 virus. However, investigations of other viruses have demonstrated aerosolization through energy devise use. Measures to reduce potential transmission include appropriate personal protective equipment, evacuation and filtration of surgical plume, limiting energy device use if appropriate, and adjusting endoscopic and laparoscopic practice (low CO2 pressures, evacuation through ultrafiltration systems). The risk of transmission of SARS-CoV2 through aerosolized surgical smoke associated with energy device use is not fully understood, however transmission is biologically plausible. Caution and appropriate measures to reduce risk to healthcare staff should be implemented when considering intraoperative use of energy devices.

How to identify intersegmental planes in performing sublobar anatomical resections.

Pulmonary segmentectomy is a common surgical procedure in thoracic surgery nowadays. Though this technique helps preventing postoperative pulmonary function loss, potential challenges are the management of air leaks and the difficulty of palpating ground-glass components during surgery, as well as how to deal with the intersegmental planes. Several techniques have been proposed for the identification and treatment of the intersegmental planes during sublobar anatomical resections: this review focuses on preoperative planning and workup and intraoperative strategies. Three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography (3D-CTBA), virtual-assisted mapping (VAL-MAP) using bronchoscopy multi-spot dye marking and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) are preoperative tools that may facilitate the planning of operation. Inflation-deflation techniques, infrared-fluorescence-enhanced method combined with bronchial and intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIF) mapping with ICG have been described as intraoperative strategies to identify the intersegmental plane. The treatment and section of the intersegmental planes is mainly accomplished by stapler and electrocautery or energy devices. The use of staplers reduces postoperative air leaks, bleeding risks and operative time but seems to reduce preserved lung volume, compromising adjacent lung expansion; in addition, higher costs and sometimes non-adequate oncological margins, being a non-anatomical technique have been described. The electrocautery and energy devices allow for a more anatomical and precise dissection maintaining safe oncological margins, with a better lung expansion and so an increased postoperative lung function. Time consuming procedure and frequent requirement of aero-haemostatic tools to treat air and blood leaks are the main drawbacks. In conclusion, there are several methods to identify and treat the intersegmental planes but there are no significant differences between the different tools, therefore the use of one technique rather than another depends overall on surgeon’s preference and the location of the segment.

How to identify intersegmental planes in performing sublobar anatomical resections

Pulmonary segmentectomy is a common surgical procedure in thoracic surgery nowadays. Though this technique helps preventing postoperative pulmonary function loss, potential challenges are the management of air leaks and the difficulty of palpating ground-glass components during surgery, as well as how to deal with the intersegmental planes. Several techniques have been proposed for the identification and treatment of the intersegmental planes during sublobar anatomical resections: this review focuses on preoperative planning and workup and intraoperative strategies. Three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography (3D-CTBA), virtual-assisted mapping (VAL-MAP) using bronchoscopy multi-spot dye marking and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) are preoperative tools that may facilitate the planning of operation. Inflation-deflation techniques, infrared-fluorescence-enhanced method combined with bronchial and intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIF) mapping with ICG have been described as intraoperative strategies to identify the intersegmental plane. The treatment and section of the intersegmental planes is mainly accomplished by stapler and electrocautery or energy devices. The use of staplers reduces postoperative air leaks, bleeding risks and operative time but seems to reduce preserved lung volume, compromising adjacent lung expansion; in addition, higher costs and sometimes non-adequate oncological margins, being a non-anatomical technique have been described. The electrocautery and energy devices allow for a more anatomical and precise dissection maintaining safe oncological margins, with a better lung expansion and so an increased postoperative lung function. Time consuming procedure and frequent requirement of aero-haemostatic tools to treat air and blood leaks are the main drawbacks. In conclusion, there are several methods to identify and treat the intersegmental planes but there are no significant differences between the different tools, therefore the use of one technique rather than another depends overall on surgeon's preference and the location of the segment.

Reduction of Surgical Smoke in the Operating Room

Abstract In the operating room, the surgical team faces a wide range of occupational hazards, one of which is the exposure to surgical smoke. The team is regularly exposed to surgical smoke that is generated by the thermal destruction of tissue from the use of electrocautery or heat-generating devices. There has been a growing interest in the potential health hazard that exposure to surgical smoke poses, subsequently generating the need for a more robust safety practice by the surgical team. The necessity to gather evidence to support the implementation of strategies that promote adoption of a smoke-free operating room is the aim of this research. Exposure to surgical fumes can potentially have a detrimental impact on an individual's personal and professional life; thus, it is important to take measures to reduce the risk.

IADVL Position Statement and Recommendations on Post Lockdown Dermatology Practice Amidst the Covid -19 Pandemic (IADVL Academy and IADVL Executive Committee).

IADVL Position Statement and Recommendations on Post Lockdown Dermatology Practice Amidst the Covid -19 Pandemic (IADVL Academy and IADVL Executive Committee).