title: Use of a novel saline/bipolar radiofrequency energy instrument as an adjunct for arresting ongoing solid organ surface and laceration bleeding in critically injured patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Solid organ (liver, spleen and kidney) haemorrhage is often life threatening and can be difficult to stop in critically ill patients. Traditional techniques for arresting this ongoing bleeding include coagulation by high voltage cautery (Bovie), topical haemostatic application, and the delivery of ignited argon gas. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new energy device for arresting persistent solid organ haemorrhage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A novel instrument utilizing bipolar radiofrequency (RF) energy which acts to ignite/boil dripping saline from a simple hand piece was employed to arrest ongoing bleeding from solid organ injuries at 2 high volume, level 1 trauma centres. This instrument is extrapolated from experience within elective hepatic resections. Standard statistics were employed (p<0.05=significant).
  
  
  RESULTS
  From January 2013 to January 2015, 36 severely injured patients (mean injury severity score=31; blunt mechanisms=32/36 (89%)) underwent use of this new saline/RF energy instrument to arrest ongoing haemorrhage from the liver (29), spleen (5) and kidney (2). Of these patients, 25 received instrument use during an initial laparotomy, while 11 patients underwent use following removal of sponges during a return laparotomy after an initial damage control procedure. Success in arresting ongoing haemorrhage was 97% (35/36) in these highly selected cases. The surgeons reported an 'ease of use' score of 4.9 out of 5. No postoperative complications (including delayed haemorrhage) were noted as a direct result of the energy instrument.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This simple saline/RF energy instrument has the potential to arrest ongoing solid organ surface/capsular bleeding, as well as moderate haemorrhage associated with deep lacerations.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: ball.chad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chad G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: andre.campbell@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: sean.grondin@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Sean C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Grondin
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: elijah.dixon@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: jdubose@umm.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DuBose
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: pmcbeth@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: McBeth
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: rohan.lall@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lall
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery*; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000293:injuries; D007813:Laparotomy; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries; D014193:Trauma Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Energy device; Haemorrhage; Solid organ injury; Trauma laparotomy