title: Pressure and Flow Characteristics of Various Resectoscopes
abstract: We evaluated the pressure and flow characteristics of four hysteroscopic resectoscopes using both gravity and suction. Each hysteroscope was introduced through a port into a sealed chamber of 150 ml volume. A pressure reading was made from the chamber and flow was measured. Using gravity feed, the mean maximum flow rate for the four devices was 512 &plusmn; 29 ml/minute, with a mean chamber pressure of 41 &plusmn; 24 mm Hg at maximum flow. Using suction, the mean maximum flow rate for the devices was 948 &plusmn; 74 ml/minute, with a mean chamber pressure of -65 &plusmn; 39 mm Hg at maximum flow. The gravity-fed maximum flow rate was very similar for all devices tested and virtually doubled under suction. More variability was apparent in chamber pressure data, especially during suction.
authors.affiliation: St. Louis University School of Medicine, 222 South Woods Mill Road, Suite 400, Chesterfield, MO 63017.
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gimpelson
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beeder