Endoscopic fetal surgery: in vitro thermic effect of electrosurgical units.
OBJECTIVE
The study focused on the safety of electrosurgical devices in endoscopic fetal surgery. The thermic effects of monopolar electric waves were studied in vitro in order to obtain safety indications in terms of mode of intramniotic application of electrical devices (time and number of shots; volts; and distance from tissues to be preserved).


METHODS
A glass model filled with saline solution, and an electrical device with resistor and voltage supply, were constructed to reproduce the physical effects of thermic conductivity in vitro; a Swan-Ganz thermic sensor was used to measure the temperature inside the beuta. Different series of tests were carried out.


RESULTS
The maximal increase (8.60 +/- 0.04 degrees C) takes place at the external surface of the resistor (distance: 0 cm), while at 2 cm, the temperature of the saline solution does not change.


CONCLUSIONS
Our tests demonstrate that in order to avoid any kind of risk during electrosurgical procedures on fetuses, the electrode must be placed at least 0.5 cm from delicate tissues.
Ciardelli
Valentina
V
Prenatal Medicine Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Italy. valenrico@libero.it
Caroli
Elena
E
Corazza
Ivan
I
Segata
Maria
M
Zannoli
Romano
R
Rizzo
Nicola
N
D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005333:Fetus / Q000601:surgery*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques