Bursting tension of medium and large canine arteries sealed with ultrasonic energy or suture ligation.
OBJECTIVE
To compare bursting tension of arteries > or =3 mm in diameter sealed with ultrasonic energy (UE) with arteries ligated with suture.


METHODS
Experimental, nested factorial design.


METHODS
Vascular segments from canine cadavers.


METHODS
Arterial segments (12) were collected from each of 16 canine cadavers and equally divided into 2 groups based on vessel diameter (medium, 3.0- < 4.5 mm; large, 4.5 - < or =6.0 mm). Arterial specimens (3) from each group were sealed with either UE (Harmonic Scalpel, HS, power level 3) or suture ligation. The mean bursting pressure and tension were determined and compared.


RESULTS
Bursting tension was significantly higher (P< .0001) for sutured arteries than UE-occluded arteries, irrespective of size. Bursting tension was significantly higher (P=.0013) for medium than large UE-occluded arteries, whereas there was no difference associated with size for ligated arteries. UE energy failed to seal 1 medium artery and 7 large arteries. Compared with normal blood pressure, bursting pressures were 3.5 times greater for sutured arteries irrespective of size, 1.8 times greater for medium UE-occluded arteries, and approached normal blood pressure for large UE-occluded arteries.


CONCLUSIONS
At the power level tested, UE should not be used to seal arteries > 4.5 mm in diameter. Suture provided an optimal seal for arteries < or =6.0 mm in diameter.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of UE to occlude arteries during laparoscopic surgery is advantageous because only 1 instrument is required to simultaneously cut and coagulate tissue, but care should be exercised where large arteries might be encountered.
Bubenik
Loretta J
LJ
School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, Skip Berman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. lbubenik@vetmed.lsu.edu
Hosgood
Giselle
G
Vasanjee
Sunil C
SC
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D008026:Ligation / Q000662:veterinary*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D013537:Sutures / Q000662:veterinary; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods