Microsurgery in microgravity is possible.
The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the feasibility of a microsurgical procedure in the context of microgravity during parabolic flights. The surgical procedure included the sectioning and repair of a rat sciatic nerve and tail artery with 10/0 monofilament sutures. Both procedures were successful. To date, telesurgery cannot be considered during interplanetary spaceflights. If a surgeon is able to perform microsurgery in microgravity, a physician with basic surgery training will be able to perform basic surgical procedures in space flights.
Pinsolle
Vincent
V
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bordeaux University Hospital/Bordeaux 2 University, Bordeaux, France. vincent.pinsolle@chu-bordeaux.fr
Martin
Dominique
D
de Coninck
Laurent
L
Techoueyres
Pierre
P
Vaïda
Pierre
P
D000818:Animals; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008866:Microsurgery; D051381:Rats; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D013026:Space Flight; D013537:Sutures; D013623:Tail / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D014893:Weightlessness