title: Cutting lung parenchyma using the harmonic scalpel--an animal experiment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Applicability of harmonic scalpel in lung surgery was investigated using an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Air tightness, control of bleeding and features of tissue regeneration were compared in a 4-week time frame of investigation in animals in which either surgical stapler or harmonic scalpel were used for pulmonary resection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences between the two methods were found on a clinical and histopathological basis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complete lack of granuloma formation at the resection line and in its vicinity consequently restitutio ad integrum demonstrate the advantage of the harmonic scalpel over the stapler in the circumstances investigated. Overall the vibration transmission method was shown not to be inferior to the standard methods in peripheral lung tissue resection.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.forename: Zalan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szantó
authors.forename: Terezia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: László
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lukacs
authors.forename: Ors Peter
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Horvath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004867:Equipment Design; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009336:Necrosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013528:Surgical Staplers