title: Thermal deformation of chandelier endoillumination probes exposed to uveal tissue and blood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and thermal properties of a chandelier endoillumination probe under conditions that may induce thermal damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental evaluation of a surgical ophthalmic instrument under ex vivo conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 27-gauge dual-tip chandelier endoillumination probe was exposed to air, saline, porcine uveal tissue, and human blood using a Xenon light source at 100% intensity. No alteration of probe tip morphology was observed in air or saline at 10-minute exposure. After exposure to uveal tissue and blood, thermal melting of the probe tip was noted at 10 minutes. Beam focus and intensity were observed to diminish in the probe tips that underwent thermal melting. A thermal imaging device was used to demonstrate increased thermal intensity from the probe tip that had been covered with uveal tissue compared with a control tip in air.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thermal melting of a chandelier fiber probe has been reported only once previously in the literature after exposure to porcine Tenon capsular tissue. We report two separate conditions that may induce thermal damage to a fiber optic probe including encapsulation of uveal tissue at the probe tip and exposure to blood. Vitreoretinal surgeons should be aware of this potential complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pichi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torrazza
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciardella
authors.forename: Scott C N
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Oliver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055100:Optical Fibers / Q000592:standards*; D013552:Swine; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014978:Xenon / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014978:Xenon