The histological effect of harmonic scalpel and electrocautery in lung resections. An experimental study in a rat model.
OBJECTIVE
In the last decade, ultrasonically activated scalpels (the Harmonic Scalpel, HS) have been developed and used for both open and endoscopic surgical procedures. The present study compares the deepness of lung tissue damage caused by HS and unipolar electrocautery (EC) in rats.


METHODS
Ten rats were used for the study. Morphological damage on lung parenchyma of the rats was measured with the ocular micrometer in light microscopy.


RESULTS
The mean depth of the tissue damage was 0.23+/-0.08 mm in the HS group, and 0.33+/-0.10 mm in the EC group. The difference was statistically significant between the 2 groups (p=0.028).


CONCLUSIONS
HS induces significantly less tissue damage than EC in rat lungs.
Cakan
A
A
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. alpcakan@gohip.com
Cagirici
U
U
Cikirikcioglu
M
M
Posacioglu
H
H
Veral
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D055370:Lung Injury; D008297:Male; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D009336:Necrosis; D018579:Patient Selection; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D012307:Risk Factors; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods