Nanoparticle Concentration in Surgical Plume During Tonsillectomy: A Comparison of Four Techniques

OBJECTIVE

Surgical plume has known potential occupational health hazards. This study compares nanoparticle concentrations in surgical plumes generated between different pediatric tonsillectomy surgical techniques and assesses the efficacy of mitigation measures.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study performed at a tertiary care academic center. Extracapsular or intracapsular tonsillectomy was performed in 60 patients using four techniques and in 10 additional patients using mitigation measures. Two nanoparticle counters were used to measure particulate concentrations: CPC™ and DiSCmini™. Tonsillectomy techniques included: (1) microdebrider (MD), (2) Bovie with manual suctioning by an assistant (B), (3) Bovie with built-in smoke evacuation system (BS), and (4) Coblator™ (CB). An additional Yankauer suction was used in the mitigation groups (BSY) and (CBY). Comparative analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA on ranks and pairwise comparisons between the groups.

RESULTS

The mean concentrations (particles/cm3) and coefficient of variants for the DiSCmini particulate counter were MD: 5140 (1.6), B: 30700 (1.5), BS: 25001 (0.8), CB: 54814 (1.7), CBY: 2395 (1.3) and BSY: 11552 (1.0). Mean concentrations for the CPC particulate counter were MD: 1223 (1.4), B: 3405 (0.7), BS: 5002 (0.9), CB: 13273 (1.0), CBY: 1048 (1.2) and BSY: 3046 (0.6). The lowest mean concentrations were noted in cases using MD and the highest in cases using CB. However, after mitigation, CBY had the lowest overall levels.

CONCLUSION

Tonsillectomy technique does impact the levels of nanoparticles emitted within the surgical plume, which may present an occupational hazard for operating room personnel.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 134:2444-2448, 2024.

Feasibility, Safety, and Provider Perspectives of Bipolar Electrosurgical Cautery Device for (Opportunistic or Complete) Salpingectomy at the Time of Cesarean Delivery

OBJECTIVE

 The aim of the study is to evaluate the use of a bipolar electrocautery device for complete salpingectomy at cesarean to improve procedure completion rates, operative time, and surgeon reported satisfaction as compared with standard bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) and suture-cut-tie salpingectomy.

STUDY DESIGN

 This is a prospective cohort study of women undergoing planned, non-emergent cesarean with desired sterilization with complete salpingectomy utilizing a bipolar electrocautery device. Study patients were compared with historic controls from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of complete salpingectomy via suture-cut-tie method versus BTL conducted at our institution (SCORE trial, NCT02374827). Outcomes were compared with groups from the original RCT.

RESULTS

 Thirty-nine women were consecutively enrolled (12/2018-11/2019) into the device arm of the study and compared with the original SCORE cohort (n = 40 BTL, n = 40 salpingectomy without a device). Salpingectomy performance with the bipolar electrocautery device was successfully completed in 100% (39/39) of enrolled women, with one device failure requiring the use of a second device, as compared with 95% (38/40) in the BTL (p = 0.49) and 67.5% (27/40) in salpingectomies without a device (p < 0.001). Mean operative time of sterilization procedure alone demonstrated device use as having the shortest operative time of all (device salpingectomy 5.0 ± 3.6 vs. no device 18.5 ± 8.3 minutes, p < 0.001; and vs. BTL 6.9 ± 5.0, p = 0.032). Mean sterilization procedure endoscopic band ligation (EBL) was demonstrated to be significantly different between each group, least amongst BTL followed by device (6.3 ± 4.8 vs. 8.4 ± 24.8, p < 0.001), and most by suture-cut-tie method (17.7 ± 14.3, p < 0.001 compared with device). Surgeon reported attitudes of complete salpingectomy performance in general practice outside an academic setting was greater with a device than without (79.5 vs. 35.3%; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

 Use of a bipolar electrocautery device improved operative times and surgeon satisfaction for salpingectomy at cesarean over standard suture ligation. Device use improved surgeon reported outcomes and may improve incorporation of complete salpingectomy at cesarean.

KEY POINTS

· Electrocautery bipolar device use was safe at the time of salpingectomy during cesarean.. · Greater surgeon satisfaction occurs using a device than without.. · Decreased surgical time with device use is seen making the procedure equal to BTL..

Advanced bipolar vessel sealing devices vs conventional bipolar energy in minimally invasive hysterectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To compare conventional bipolar electrosurgery with advanced bipolar vessel sealing (ABVS) devices for total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted by searching Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library from January 1989 to November 2021. We identified all studies comparing ABVS devices with conventional bipolar electrosurgery in TLH and reporting at least one of the following outcomes: total blood loss, total operative time, hospital stay, perioperative complications, or costs. Meta-analysis was conducted with a random effect model reporting pooled mean differences and odds ratios (ORs) with related 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Two randomized controlled trials and two retrospective studies encompassing 314 patients were included out of 615 manuscripts. The pooled estimated total blood loss in the ABVS devices group was lower than conventional bipolar electrosurgery of 39 mL (95% CI - 65.8 to - 12.6 mL; p = .004). The use of ABVS devices significantly reduced the total operative time by 8 min (95% CI - 16.7 to - 0.8 min; p = .033). Hospital stay length did not differ between the two groups, and a comparable overall surgical complication rate was observed [OR of 0.9 (95% CI 0.256 - 3.200; p = .878].

CONCLUSIONS

High-quality evidence comparing ABVS devices with conventional bipolar electrosurgery for TLH is lacking. ABVS devices were associated with reduced total blood loss and operative time; however, observed differences seem clinically irrelevant. Further research is required to clarify the advantages of ABVS devices over conventional bipolar electrosurgery and to identify cases that may benefit more from their use.

Clinical Issues - February 2024

Retaining count sheets in the patient's medical record Key words: count sheet, medical record, procedural risk factor, retained surgical item, surgical count. Counting instruments during cavity closure Key words: uterine cavity, abdominal cavity, fetal procedure, cesarean delivery, instrument count. Surgical wound classification of procedures involving cancer removal Key words: cancer, contamination, infection, surgical wound classification, decision making. Placing an electrosurgical unit dispersive electrode over a tattoo Key words: dispersive electrode placement, metallic pigment, burn, tattoo, electrosurgical unit (ESU).

Hybrid Train-The-Trainer course for the Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy certificates improves self-confidence in knowledge of surgical energy and develops teaching skills: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Several well-trained expert instructors who completed the "Train-The-Trainer (TTT)" course are required to disseminate the safe use of surgical energy devices, which can be learned through the Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE) program. This study aimed to explore whether the hybrid FUSE TTT course is feasible and effective, which can improve teaching skills of surgical energy.

METHODS

The hybrid TTT course, which was designed to train FUSE-certified personnel as instructors, comprised three virtual sessions spread over 5 h in total and a 1-day in-person training, followed by a 100-min FUSE electrosurgery hands-on workshop in practice as an instructor. The participants reported on self-confidence regarding knowledge of various energy devices or adverse events before, immediately after, and 6 months after the course. Participants and experienced FUSE instructors assessed the trainees' presentation skills at the beginning of the in-person training and after the hands-on workshop. The primary outcomes were the feasibility and completion rate of the entire course.

RESULTS

Seventeen participants completed the entire couse; most (94%) were satisfied with the course. Self-confidence in knowledge about various contents improved significantly: the fundamentals of electrosurgery (post, p < 0.001; 6 months, p = 0.01), mechanism and prevention of adverse events (post, p = 0.001; 6 months, p = 0.04), monopolar instruments (post, p = 0.002; 6 months, p = 0.01), bipolar instruments (post, p = 0.01; 6 months, p = 0.06), and integration with other medical devices (post, p = 0.006; 6 months, p = 0.02). The presentation skill index scores of self- and peer assessments improved after the in-person training (self-assessment [pre 44 vs. post 56, p < 0.001], peer assessment [pre 39 vs. post 68, p < 0.001]).

CONCLUSIONS

The hybrid TTT course can provide FUSE-certified personnel with an improved self-confidence concerning knowledge of surgical energy and improve their presentation skills with midterm retention. This can help build trainees' self-confidence as instructors.

HPV E6/E7 mRNA combined with thin-prep cytology test for the diagnosis of residual/recurrence after loop electrosurgical excision procedure in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

To evaluate the diagnostic value of combining HPV E6/E7 mRNA testing with Thin-Prep cytology (TCT) for residual/recurrence detection, a total of 289 patients who underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for high-grade cervical lesions were included. Patients were followed up at different time points, and residual/recurrent lesions were confirmed through vaginoscopy. TCT, HPV-DNA, and HPV E6/E7 mRNA tests were conducted. Diagnostic performance, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy, was assessed. Among the patients, 76 cases showed residual lesions/recurrence, while 213 cases showed no residual/recurrence. Positive margins in the cervical-vaginal and cervical canal areas were associated with a higher risk of residual/recurrence. The combined HPV E6/E7 mRNA and TCT test showed higher diagnostic efficacy than individual tests at 6-, 12-, and 24-months follow-up. The combined test consistently demonstrated higher specificity and sensitivity, with significantly larger area under the curve (AUC) values compared to the individual tests.

Effect of longitudinal-bending elliptical ultrasonic vibration assistance on electrosurgical cutting and hemostasis

Electrosurgical devices are widely used for tissue cutting and hemostasis in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for their high precision and low trauma. However, tissue adhesion and the resulting thermal injury can cause infection and impede the wound-healing process. This paper proposes a longitudinal-bending elliptical ultrasonic vibration-assisted (EUV-A) electrosurgical cutting system that incorporates an ultrasonic vibration in the direction of the cut by introducing an elliptical motion of the surgical tip. Compared with a solely longitudinal ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) electrosurgical device, the EUV-A electrode contacts the tissue intermittently, thus allowing for a cooler cut and preventing tissue accumulation. The experimental results reveal that the EUV-A electrode demonstrates better performance than the UV-A electrode for both anti-adhesion and thermal injury through in vitro experiments in porcine samples. The tissue removal mechanism of EUV-A electrosurgical cutting is modeled to investigate its anti-adhesion effect. In addition, lower adhesion, lower temperature, and faster cutting are demonstrated through in vivo experiments in rabbit samples. Results show that the EUV-A electrode causes lower thermal injury, indicative of faster postoperative healing. Finally, efficacy of the hemostatic effect of the EUV-A electrode is demonstrated in vivo for vessels up to 3.5 mm (equivalent to that of electrocautery). The study reveals that the EUV-A electrosurgical cutting system can achieve safe tissue incision and hemostasis.

GaN-Based 4-MHz Full-Bridge Electrosurgical Generator Using Zero-Voltage Switching Over Wide Load Impedance Range

In this article, a 4-MHz full-bridge inverter system for an electrosurgical generator (ESG) is presented with zero-voltage switching (ZVS) turn-on over a wide load impedance range based on wideband gap material gallium nitride (GaN) technology. The proposed resonant circuit is used for impedance matching and limits the current when the load is short state while performing ZVS over a wide load impedance range. It also ensures high power performance at high frequencies for electric surgery. The implementation methods of the GaN switch at 4 MHz with high output performance are guided by the low inductance from the gate-driver output to the switch gate node and the effective heating management structure of the GaN-based inverter. The proposed generator achieved a maximum output power of 99 W to the load and a maximum overall efficiency of 89% with overcurrent of <3 A at short state of the load. The ESG can generate constant output power of 20, 50, 70 W through mode control of 2, 5, and 7 s. The overcurrent Moreover, the proposed generator is tested on porcine tissue samples to verify its effectiveness as an ESG.

Synergetic Effects of Nanoscale ALD-HfO2 Coatings and Bionic Microstructures for Antiadhesive Surgical Electrodes: Improved Cutting Performance, Antibacterial Property, and Biocompatibility

The high temperature induced by surgical electrodes is highly susceptible to severe surface adhesion and thermal damage to adjacent tissues, which is a major challenge in improving the quality of electrosurgery. Herein, we reported a coupled electrode with micro/nano hierarchical structures fabricated by depositing nanoscale hafnium oxide (HfO2) coatings on bionic microstructures (BMs) via laser texturing, acid washing, and atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques. The synergistic effect of HfO2 coatings and BMs greatly enhanced the hemophobicity of the electrode with a blood contact angle of 162.15 ± 3.16°. Furthermore, the coupled surface was proven to have excellent antiadhesive properties to blood when heated above 100 °C, and the underlying mechanism was discussed. Further experiments showed that the coupled electrode had significant advantages in reducing cutting forces, thermal damage, and tissue adhesion mass. Moreover, the antibacterial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 97.2% and 97.9%, respectively. In addition, the noncytotoxicity levels of HfO2 coatings were verified by cell apoptosis and cycle assays, indirectly endowing the coupled electrode with biocompatibility. Overall, the coupled electrode was shown to have broad potential for application in the field of electrosurgery, and this work could provide new insights into antiadhesion properties under high-temperature conditions.

Colposcopy and Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure: A Simulated Exercise

Introduction

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 is associated with a high degree of progression to cervical cancer. Its risk is markedly reduced after excisional treatment. Hence, it is critical that providers accurately diagnose and treat this condition. We present a simulation-based module focused on resident mastery of performance of colposcopy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).

Methods

Learners were obstetrics and gynecology residents. Guidelines on performance of colposcopy and LEEP were presented prior to module participation. We used pelvic task trainers, kielbasa sausages, and routine equipment for performance of colposcopy and LEEP. Colposcopy and LEEP sessions each lasted 30 minutes. Learners completed questionnaires before and after regarding comfort level on aspects of colposcopy and LEEP performance and level of agreement with statements on performing procedures independently. Comfort levels and degrees of agreement were based on 5-point Likert scales (1 = very uncomfortable/strongly disagree, 3 = neither comfortable nor uncomfortable/neutral, 5 = very comfortable/strongly agree, respectively).

Results

Modules were held in November 2021 and May 2022. Thirty-four residents participated. Mean comfort scores significantly increased from 3.1 to 4.3 (p < .001) before and after the module for all steps. There was an increase in level of agreement with statements on being able to independently perform colposcopy (2.2 to 3.5, p < .01) and LEEP (2.9 to 3.6, p = .06).

Discussion

Simulation-based modules on performance of colposcopy and LEEP significantly increased resident learner comfort in the performance of these procedures. Comfort in performing these procedures is important in providing comprehensive gynecologic care.

Implantable Electronic Cardiovascular Device Complications Related to Electrocautery During Ophthalmology Surgery: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

Implantable electronic cardiovascular device such as cardiac pacemakers and implantable defibrillators are common life-saving devices. Device-related complications can arise when undergoing surgical interventions with electrosurgical tools due to electromagnetic interference, based on electrocautery type, implantable electronic cardiovascular device type, electrocautery location, and a number of other factors. The risk of device-related complications due to electrocautery in oculoplastic surgery has not been established. This systematic literature review assesses prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of electrocautery-related device complications in oculoplastic surgery.

METHODS

Systematic literature review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analysis guidelines and used the search terms "pacemaker," "implantable cardioverter defibrillator," "electrocautery," "cautery," and "electrosurgery" through June 2022. Inclusion criteria were full-text articles, discussing ocular, oculoplastic, or other facial surgery. Exclusion criteria were non-English language or surgery focused on other parts of the body. Full-text manuscripts of identified articles were reviewed and relevant data were extracted.

RESULTS

Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Two studies were level I and II evidence, while 10 studies were level III or IV. There were no reports of electromagnetic interference with bipolar cautery use. With monopolar cautery use, cases of electromagnetic interference were reported, but without related significant morbidity or mortality. Safety recommendations to minimize electrical flow through the implantable electronic cardiovascular device are described.

CONCLUSIONS

There were no reports of implantable electronic cardiovascular device-related complications from bipolar or thermocautery use in ophthalmic or oculoplastic surgeries. Monopolar have been associated with electromagnetic interference, but additional preoperative and perioperative measures can be taken to mitigate this risk.

Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks for Data Augmentation of a Neonatal Image Dataset

In today's neonatal intensive care units, monitoring vital signs such as heart rate and respiration is fundamental for neonatal care. However, the attached sensors and electrodes restrict movement and can cause medical-adhesive-related skin injuries due to the immature skin of preterm infants, which may lead to serious complications. Thus, unobtrusive camera-based monitoring techniques in combination with image processing algorithms based on deep learning have the potential to allow cable-free vital signs measurements. Since the accuracy of deep-learning-based methods depends on the amount of training data, proper validation of the algorithms is difficult due to the limited image data of neonates. In order to enlarge such datasets, this study investigates the application of a conditional generative adversarial network for data augmentation by using edge detection frames from neonates to create RGB images. Different edge detection algorithms were used to validate the input images' effect on the adversarial network's generator. The state-of-the-art network architecture Pix2PixHD was adapted, and several hyperparameters were optimized. The quality of the generated RGB images was evaluated using a Mechanical Turk-like multistage survey conducted by 30 volunteers and the FID score. In a fake-only stage, 23% of the images were categorized as real. A direct comparison of generated and real (manually augmented) images revealed that 28% of the fake data were evaluated as more realistic. An FID score of 103.82 was achieved. Therefore, the conducted study shows promising results for the training and application of conditional generative adversarial networks to augment highly limited neonatal image datasets.

TREATMENT EXPERIENCE OF CHRONIC LUNG ABSCESSES USING MINI-INVASIVE ELECTROSURGICAL TECHNIQUES

OBJECTIVE

The aim: To increase the efficiency of surgical treatment of patients with chronic lung abscesses by developing mini-invasive methods of surgical treatment using electrosurgical technologies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: Conducted study of the results of surgical treatment of 78 patients with chronic lung abscesses operated from 2011 to 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: the main group (37 patients who were treated using developed technologies) and a comparison group (41 patients, treated using traditional tactics).

RESULTS

Results: Transthoracic and endobronchial sanitation of the purulent cavity in the lung at the first stage of treatment contributed to the rapid elimination of inflammation and significantly accelerated the regeneration of lung tissue. Clinical effectiveness in the main group was expressed in reducing the phenomena of intoxication, decrease in Leukocyte intoxication index (LII) (early as on day 5 after surgery), on the 10th day, a significant reduction in patients bacterial excretion was noted (in the main group by 18.9%, in the comparison group - by 14.6%), the average time of reducing the abscess cavity by 1/4 of the volume 6 days less, the healing time of the cavity of the AL which is on average 13 and 16 days, respectively, less.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: The developed methods of surgical interventions made it possible to significantly positively influence the level of endogenous intoxication indicators, avoid resection surgical interventions, reduce the number of postoperative complications, avoid damage to neighboring organs, reduce the time of patients with achieving a stable positive effect.

Adopting a portfolio of ultrasonic and advanced bipolar electrosurgery devices from a single manufacturer compared to currently used ultrasonic and advanced bipolar devices: a probabilistic budget impact analysis from a Spanish hospital perspective

AIMS

Advanced energy devices are commonly used in electrosurgery, including ultrasonic and advanced bipolar (ABP) devices. Smoke evacuation and reusable dispersive electrodes are also utilized during electrosurgery to improve staff and patient safety. This study assessed the budget impact of adopting a portfolio of Ethicon energy devices compared to devices from other manufacturers from a Spanish hospital perspective.

METHODS

The main analysis compared the Ethicon advanced energy device portfolio (ultrasonic and ABP devices) to Non-Ethicon advanced energy devices. It was assumed that 4,000 procedures using one advanced energy device each were performed annually, and the cost impact of operating room time, length of stay, and transfusions were considered. A probabilistic budget impact analysis with 10,000 iterations was conducted for generalizability to other hospitals in Spain and Europe. Secondary analysis assessed whether cost savings from the Ethicon advanced energy device portfolio could offset costs of adopting smoke evacuation and reusable dispersive electrodes (Full Ethicon energy portfolio).

RESULTS

In the main analysis, the annual budget impact of introducing the Ethicon advanced energy device portfolio was cost saving in 79.8% of probabilistic iterations (mean: -€945,214; 95% credible interval [CrI]: -€3,242,710; €1,285,942) with a mean budget impact per procedure of -€236 (95% CrI: -€811; €321). In the secondary analysis, adding smoke evacuation and reusable dispersive electrodes was still cost saving in 75.3% of iterations compared to Non-Ethicon advanced energy devices (mean: -€778,208; 95% CrI: -€3,075,086; €1,464,728) with a mean budget impact per procedure of -€97 (95% CrI: -€384; €183). Savings resulted from differences in operating room time, length of hospital stay, and volume of disposable electrodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Adopting Ethicon advanced energy devices demonstrated economic benefits compared to non-Ethicon devices. Introducing the advanced portfolio may improve surgical care quality and the full portfolio was cost saving while improving OR safety for staff and patients.

Plume Generated by Different Electrosurgical Techniques: An In Vitro Experiment on Human Skin

BACKGROUND

Plume generated by electrosurgical techniques is a health hazard to patients and dermatologists.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the particle concentration generated by various energy devices used in dermatologic surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five surgical techniques were tested on human tissue samples in a closed chamber. A particle counter, positioned at a fixed point 20 cm away from the sample, recorded the concentrations of aerosolized particles generated over 7 particle sizes (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 μm).

RESULTS

Monopolar electrocoagulation created the greatest concentration of particles followed by electrocautery, electrodesiccation, electrofulguration, and bipolar electrocoagulation. Bipolar electrocoagulation created 80 times fewer 0.3 μm particles and 98 times fewer 0.5 μm particles than monopolar electrocoagulation. Across all electrosurgical techniques, the greatest concentrations of particles generated were of the 0.3 and 0.5 μm particle size.

CONCLUSION

Bipolar electrocoagulation created the lowest concentration of particulate matter. Given the noxious and hazardous nature of surgical plume, the bipolar forceps offer surgeons a safer method of performing electrical surgery for both the surgical staff and the patient.

Safer operating room teams: rationale for the fundamental use of surgical energy (FUSE) hospital compliance module

BACKGROUND

The Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE) program was developed by The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) to promote the safe use of surgical energy. A curriculum that could be used in hospital educational programs was needed to expand access. The goal of this project was to develop a short, inexpensive, online module that emphasizes key FUSE learning objectives. The accompanying survey assessed perceived relevancy.

METHODS

The SAGES FUSE Committee developed the Hospital Compliance Module. The target audience included all OR personnel. The Module was piloted at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The data were analyzed using Chi-square with Yates' correction two-tailed test.

RESULTS

Three-hundred-eighty individuals completed the survey: 198 (52%) surgeons, 139 (37%) nurses, 28 (7%) surgical technicians, and 15 (4%) house staff. For "…the Module taught me valuable information" 155 (41%) responded extremely and 350 (92%) responded at least somewhat. For "As a result of [the Module] how likely are you to change how you set up or use energy devices…?" 103 (27%) responded extremely and 305 (80%) responded at least somewhat. For "How likely are you to recommend this compliance module…?" 143 (38%) responded extremely and 333 (88%) responded at least somewhat.

CONCLUSION

The FUSE Hospital Compliance Module is effective and efficient. It should be considered for widespread distribution by hospitals to enhance staff education.

Sensor-Based Automated Detection of Electrosurgical Cautery States

In computer-assisted surgery, it is typically required to detect when the tool comes into contact with the patient. In activated electrosurgery, this is known as the energy event. By continuously tracking the electrosurgical tools’ location using a navigation system, energy events can help determine locations of sensor-classified tissues. Our objective was to detect the energy event and determine the settings of electrosurgical cautery—robustly and automatically based on sensor data. This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using the cautery state to detect surgical incisions, without disrupting the surgical workflow. We detected current changes in the wires of the cautery device and grounding pad using non-invasive current sensors and an oscilloscope. An open-source software was implemented to apply machine learning on sensor data to detect energy events and cautery settings. Our methods classified each cautery state at an average accuracy of 95.56% across different tissue types and energy level parameters altered by surgeons during an operation. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of automatically identifying energy events during surgical incisions, which could be an important safety feature in robotic and computer-integrated surgery. This study provides a key step towards locating tissue classifications during breast cancer operations and reducing the rate of positive margins.

Clinical Issues-August 2022

Use of sterile vests Key words: sterile technique, surgical attire, gown, contaminated, back. Bare arms for unscrubbed personnel Key words: long sleeves, cover jacket, disposable jacket, patient skin antisepsis, surgical site infection (SSI). Preventing thermal injury from electrosurgical devices Key words: electrosurgical unit (ESU), monopolar electrosurgical device, electrode, alternate site thermal injury, burn. Preoperative site marking for minimally invasive procedures Key words: surgical site, wrong-site surgery, alternative site marking, point of access, preprocedure verification.

Midtrimester cervical elastography in pregnant women with a history of loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)

We aimed to compare cervical elastographic parameters based on a previous loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and to determine whether they can predict preterm delivery in pregnant women with a history of LEEP. This multicenter prospective case-control study included 71 singleton pregnant women at 14-24 weeks of gestation with a history of LEEP and 1:2 gestational age-matched controls. We performed cervical elastography using E-cervix and compared maternal characteristics, delivery outcomes, cervical length (CL), and elastographic parameters between the two groups. The median mid-trimester CL was significantly shorter in the LEEP group. Most elastographic parameters, including internal os (IOS), external os (EOS), elasticity contrast index (ECI), and hardness ratio (HR), were significantly different in the two groups. In the LEEP group, the sPTD group compared to the term delivery (TD) group showed a higher rate of previous sPTD (50% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001), higher IOS and ECI (IOS: 0.28 [0.12-0.37] vs. 0.19 [0.10-0.37], p = 0.029; ECI: 3.89 [1.79-4.86] vs. 2.73 [1.48-5.43], p = 0.019), and lower HR (59.97 [43.88-92.43] vs. 79.06 [36.87-95.40], p = 0.028), but there was no significant difference in CL (2.92 [2.16-3.76] vs. 3.13 [1.50-3.16], p = 0.247). In conclusion, we demonstrated that a history of LEEP was associated with a change in cervical strain measured in mid-trimester as well as with CL shortening. We also showed that cervical elastography can be useful in predicting sPTD in pregnant women with previous LEEP.

Electrosurgery and Other Technical Advancements in Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery - An Update

Electrosurgery in gynecology has changed over the past few decades. The use of energy-based devices, especially in minimally invasive procedures, is extremely important for preparation, short reconvalescence and patient safety. Recently, there have been major advances in energy-based surgical devices that have further shortened OR time and increased patient safety. Although bipolar and monopolar electrosurgery is still very important, the introduction of high-frequency ultrasound in gynecologic surgery has improved cutting and coagulation by lowering thermal damage in the surrounding tissue. Furthermore, new technical inventions have fundamentally changed the treatment of specific diseases. The introduction of ablation in the therapy of uterine fibroids, for example, has made conventional myomectomy no longer necessary in some cases, as necrosis of fibroids can be induced by placing very small thermal probes into the fibroids. Robotic surgery will change the face of gynecological surgery in the near future, as the initial studies could show lower surgical morbidity and faster recovery of patients after robotic-assisted laparoscopy. In this article we provide a short overview of current technical advances, review possible indications as well as limitations, and take a look into the future of minimally invasive surgery in gynecology.

Experimental study on fire characteristics in cable compartment of utility tunnel with natural ventilation

The fire characteristics under natural ventilation in the cable compartment of the utility tunnel are studied. A series of small-scale fire experimental tests are conducted to obtain the maximum temperature below the ceiling of different ignition vertical heights and cable types. In this paper, the ceiling temperature decay and heat release rate (HRR) are studied in the cable compartment of utility tunnel. Through experimental tests, the fire characteristics of placing the fire source on the near wall side 3.0 m away from the shaft of the utility tunnel cable compartment are studied. The results showed that under the action of natural ventilation, with the decrease of fuel quantity, the mass loss of cable decreases, and the maximum temperature below the ceiling of the cable compartment in the utility tunnel decreases. ZRYJV cables burn more sufficient combustion than RVVR cables. A new empirical association for total HRR is proposed. Those experimental test results are used as validation data for the newly proposed empirical correlation of total HRR. This paper hopes to provide some basic fire safety references for the utility tunnel planning of the urban underground cable compartment.

Implementing a Surgical Smoke Evacuation Policy and Procedure: A Quality Improvement Project

Energy-generating surgical devices (eg, electrosurgical units, lasers) produce surgical smoke that can cause negative health effects in exposed individuals. In 2019, a review of nursing documentation at an urban teaching hospital revealed that personnel were properly evacuating surgical smoke during less than 0.5% of applicable procedures. To address the noncompliance and reduce exposure to surgical smoke, an interdisciplinary team initiated a quality improvement project to implement a surgical smoke evacuation policy for all smoke-generating procedures. The project included creation and implementation of a smoke evacuation policy, staff member education on the hazards of surgical smoke and proper evacuation device use, and acquisition of the proper smoke evacuation equipment. After instituting the policy in June 2020, results of a three-month chart audit showed that there was nursing documentation confirming personnel used energy-generating devices and the corresponding surgical smoke evacuation devices during 664 of 2,224 procedures, for a compliance rate of 30%.

Electrosurgery in dermatology

Electrosurgery applies high frequency alternating electrical currents to generate heat, thereby creating tissue damage required for cutting, hemostasis, or destruction. Electrosurgery can be delivered in a variety of different ways and can be tailored to achieve the desired clinical effect. Having a command of the underlying principles of electrosurgery will help dermatologic surgeons use the appropriate form of electrosurgery to safely achieve the desired results. We reviewed basic principles of electrosurgery, described the various techniques and devices, and delineated associated risks of electrosurgery for specific patient populations and providers. All modalities of electrosurgery present a risk of electromagnetic interference, which can negatively affect patients with implanted devices, such as pacemakers, defibrillators, cochlear implants, and deep brain stimulators. In particular, electrosurgery may create a smoke plume containing a number of volatile organic compounds potentially noxious; however, the risk of such exposure remains unknown.

Human Papillomavirus Persistence and Association With Recurrent Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia After Cryotherapy vs Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure Among HIV-Positive Women: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Persistence of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or higher (CIN2+) has not been compared between cryotherapy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) among HIV-positive women.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether cryotherapy or LEEP is more effective at clearing hrHPV and whether persistent hrHPV is associated with CIN2+ recurrence among HIV-positive women.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This is a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial conducted among women with HIV, hrHPV, and CIN2+ in Nairobi, Kenya. From June 2011 to September 2016, 354 HIV-positive women with CIN2+ disease had hrHPV cervical samples collected before and after treatment with cryotherapy or LEEP. Data were analyzed from September 2018 to January 2021.

INTERVENTIONS

Women were randomized 1:1 to receive cryotherapy or LEEP and were followed up every 6 months for 24 months with hrHPV cervical swab and Papanicolaou test with confirmatory biopsy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcomes of this analysis were hrHPV positivity defined as having 1 of 12 hrHPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59) and disease recurrence defined as CIN grade 2 or higher as determined with cervical biopsy.

RESULTS

A total of 354 HIV-positive women with CIN2+ were included in the study; mean (SD) age was 37 (8) years in the cryotherapy arm and 38 (9) years in the LEEP arm. Baseline hrHPV prevalence was 90% (160 of 177) in the cryotherapy arm and 94% (166 of 177) in the LEEP arm (P = .24), and the most common hrHPV types detected were 16 (87 of 326 [27%]), 58 (87 of 326 [27%]), 35 (86 of 326 [26%]), 52 (66 of 326 [20%]), and 18 (56 of 325 [17%]). Over 24 months, clearance of hrHPV was significantly higher among those who underwent LEEP compared with cryotherapy (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.03-1.90; P = .03). In multivariable analysis, hrHPV type-specific persistence at 12-month follow-up was significantly associated with CIN2+ recurrence from 12 months to 24 months (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.70; 95% CI, 2.47-8.95; P < .001). Performance of hrHPV testing at 12 months for recurrent CIN2+ was 93% sensitivity, 46% specificity, 38% positive predictive value, and 95% negative predictive value.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, HIV-positive women who received LEEP were more likely to clear hrHPV infection compared with those undergoing cryotherapy, reinforcing the efficacy of LEEP in this population. Persistent hrHPV was significantly associated with recurrent CIN2+, suggesting that LEEP's benefits may be related in part to its ability to clear hrHPV infection. Screening for hrHPV infection after treatment among HIV-positive women may be used to rule out recurrent CIN disease given its high sensitivity and negative predictive value.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01298596.

Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure in Managing Persistent Low-Grade Abnormality or Human Papillomavirus Positivity

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the study were to estimate the rate and to identify predictors of high-grade abnormalities among women with persistent low-grade abnormalities or high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) positivity for at least 2 years stratified by presence (high risk) or absence (low risk) of previous high-grade results or HPV 16/18.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for persistent low-grade or hrHPV positivity was performed. Patients were stratified based on whether they had a history of high-grade and/or HPV 16/18 positivity. Rates of high-grade or worse abnormalities on LEEP were compared using Fisher exact tests. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between patient characteristics and high-grade results on the LEEP.

RESULTS

Three hundred eleven LEEPs were performed for persistent low-grade or hrHPV positivity. The rates of occult high grade were 12% and 22% among the low- and high-risk groups, respectively. Compared with those 45 years and older, the adjusted odds of high grade was 3.79 (95% CI = 1.19-12.1) for women aged 25-29 years. The odds of high grade was higher among current versus never smokers (6.40; 95% CI = 2.01-20.4) and those with a history of high-grade abnormality (2.23; 95% CI = 1.12-4.43). At 2 years, approximately half had an abnormal cytology and/or hrHPV positivity result independent of whether high grade was identified on their LEEP specimen.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with persistent low-grade abnormalities or persistent hrHPV should be counseled on the risks and benefits of a LEEP given that 12%-22% have a risk of occult high grade, especially if they have a history of high-grade dysplasia.

THE RESULTS OF SURGICAL TRATMENT OF COMBINED ANORECTAL DISEASES USING RADIO-FREQUENCY AND HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES

The combined pathology of the anal canal and rectum is a very important problem today, due to its progressive growth, especially in industrialized countries over the past two or three decades. The aim of the study was to conduct a comparative assessment of using high-frequency electrosurgical devices and also radio-frequency device for treatment of combined anal саnal and rectal pathology. The results of treatment of 635 patients with combined anal canal and rectal diseases have been analyzed. Using high-frequency electrosurgical device "ERBE ICC 200" (ERBE Elektromedizin GmbH, Germany) have been operated on 169 (26,6%) patients, high-frequency electrosurgical device "EFA" (Russia) - 114 (17,9%) patients, high-frequency electrosurgical device "KLS Martin" (KLS Martin Group, Germany)- 107 (16,9%) patients and radio-frequency device "Surgitron" (Ellman International, USA) - 245 (38,6%) patients. After operations for assessment the effectiveness of using the above technologies all patients in each group were underwent to morphological investigations of anal canal and rectal tissues to study the depth of coagulation necrosis. In case of using of the high-frequency electrosurgical device "ERBE ICC 200" the incision of tissues occurred with formation of coagulation necrosis layer, which thickness was 0,113-0,457mm, in case of using high-frequency electrosurgical device "EFA" a layer of coagulation necrosis formed with thickness 0,074-0,434mm, in case of using high-frequency electrosurgical device"KLS Martin" forms a thin layer of coagulation necrosis in the thickness along the edge of the cut 0,053-0,333 mm and using of radio-frequency device "Surgitron" was accompanied with the formation on the cut edge of a thin coagulation necrosis layer with depth 0,037-0,297mm. Application of these modern radio-frequency and high-frequency technologies, due to the minimal and slight influence on tissues, contributes to reducing the operations duration, intensity of the postoperative pain, improving the terms of patients rehabilitation.

Management of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion patients with positive margin after LEEP conization: A retrospective study

To explore the optimal way to manage patients with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and positive margin by identifying the risk factors for its recurrence and residue.A retrospective study was conducted on 267 cases of a pathologically confirmed HSIL with positive margin following conization by loop electrosurgical excisional procedure (LEEP) between January 2010 and December 2015. One hundred two cases were selected for regular follow-up every 6 months, and 165 cases were selected for a second surgery (repeat cervical conization or hysterectomy) within 3 months of initial LEEP. We analyzed the association between recurrent or residual diseases and these factors: age, menopausal status, ThinPrep cytologic test (TCT) results, high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection, pathological grades of the margin, number of involved margins, and glandular involvement.The recurrence rate among 102 cases who underwent follow-up was 17.6% (18/102). The factors: atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H) or higher lesions in the pre-LEEP TCT (P = .038), persistent HR-HPV infection at the 6th month post-LEEP (P = .03), HSIL-positive margin (P = .003), and multifocal-involved margin (P = .002) were significantly associated with recurrent disease, while age, menopause, and pre-LEEP HR-HPV infection were not associated with recurrent disease (P > .05). The residual rate among 165 patients who underwent a second surgery was 45.5% (75/165), of which 15 cases were residual cervical cancer. The factors: menopause (P = .02), ≥ASC-H in pre-LEEP TCT (P = .04), pre-LEEP HR-HPV infection (P = .04), ≥HSIL-positive margin (P < .001), and multifocal-involved margin (P < .001) significantly increased the risk of residual disease. No correlation existed between residual disease and age or glandular involvement (P > .05).For patients with a positive margin after LEEP, regular follow-up or second surgery should be selected according to fertility requirement and pathological characteristics of the positive margin, as well as TCT and HR-HPV infection condition.

Efficacy of Low Power, Pure Cut Mode of Monopolar Electrosurgery and Quilting Sutures for Preventing Seroma Formation After Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous Flap Harvest

BACKGROUND

Latissimus dorsi myocutaneous (LD) flaps are widely used in breast reconstruction surgery. However, seromas often form postoperatively at the donor site as a complication. This study aimed to determine the impact of different electrocautery modes during flap elevation, with or without subsequent quilting sutures, on postoperative seroma formation.

METHODS

Subjects were 112 patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with LD flaps after breast-conserving surgery between April 2015 and January 2019. Group A consisted of 21 patients who underwent LD flap elevation using the fulgurate mode, and group B consisted of 25 patients who underwent flap elevation using the lower power, pure cut mode. Group C consisted of 66 patients who underwent flap elevation with the lower power, pure cut mode combined with quilting sutures for wound closure.

RESULTS

Mean 1-week postoperative back drain volume and the mean number of days to drain removal in group B were significantly reduced relative to those in group A (group A, 752.3 mL and 16.9 days, respectively; group B, 552.2 mL and 10.6 days, respectively; P < 0.001 for both). Group C, which included quilting sutures, had even lower values than group B (459.7 mL and 7.4 days, respectively; group B vs group C: P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively). Significant differences were observed between groups for postoperative seroma formation at the flap donor site (group A, 16 [76.2%] of 21 patients; group B, 11 [44%] 25 patients; group C, 4 [6.1%] of 66 patients; A vs B: P < 0.001, B vs C: P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of low power, pure cut mode for LD flap harvest, combined with quilting sutures, effectively shortened the time to drain removal and suppressed seroma formation. Given that specialized devices and materials are not required, this combination may reduce both patient burden and medical costs.

Bronchoscopic Treatment of Airway Obstructions With a Novel Electrosurgical Device

OBJECTIVES

Airway obstructions (AOs) in the central airway or lobar bronchi develop due to malignant or benign disease. Because of the morbidity and mortality associated with AO, it is important to develop additional therapeutic ablative techniques. CoreCath2.7S is a novel monopolar radiofrequency electrosurgical device approved to treat obstructions of the upper airway and tracheobronchial tree by both cutting soft tissue and providing electrosurgical hemostasis. We present a large case series describing its use.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with AO undergoing airway recanalization with CoreCath2.7S at 2 interventional pulmonology practices from October 2017 to May 2019. Demographic information, AO etiology, location, and degree, and therapeutic modalities used were recorded.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients underwent 64 procedures for AO due to malignant (n=30, 57%) or benign (n=23, 43%) disease. AOs were treated in the trachea (n=28), mainstem bronchi (n=23), and lobar bronchi (n=17). All AO occluded the airway at least 50%. Adjunctive therapeutic modalities were commonly used (n=60, 94%), including flexible cryoprobe (n=33), balloon dilation (n=23), rigid bronchoscopy (n=19), spray cryotherapy (n=19), argon plasma coagulation (n=14), and stenting (n=5). Restoration of airway patency was achieved in all cases without any periprocedural or immediate postprocedural complications.

CONCLUSION

CoreCath2.7S was successfully used to treat patients with AO due to malignant or benign disease. Airway patency was restored with no periprocedural or immediate postprocedural complications. It should be considered as another therapeutic modality in the growing field of ablative techniques for the treatment of AO.

Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) plus top hat for HIV-infected women with endocervical intraepithelial neoplasia in Kenya

OBJECTIVE

To determine the utility of detecting endocervical cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ with endocervical curettage (ECC) and treating with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) plus top hat (+TH) among women with HIV.

METHODS

Cytology was followed by coloscopy-directed biopsy if participants had HSIL or ASC-H and biopsy plus ECC if there were glandular cells present. CIN2/3 on ECC and/or inadequate colposcopy (ENL) was treated with LEEP+TH, while CIN2/3 on ectocervix (ECL) received LEEP alone. Recurrent CIN2+ were compared over a 2-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Of 5330 participants, 160 underwent ECC, 98 were CIN2/3 on ECC, and 77 received LEEP+TH. ECC detected 15 (9%) more women with CIN2/3 than biopsy alone. Women were more likely to have ENL if they were older (≥45 vs <35 years) (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 2.14; P = 0.009) and on antiretroviral treatment longer (≥2 vs <2 years) (aRR 3.97; P < 0.001). Over the 2-year follow-up, 35 (29%) ENL had recurrent CIN2+ after TH compared to 19 (24%) ECL after LEEP (hazard ratio 1.32; 95% confidence interval 0.75-2.31; P = 0.338).

CONCLUSION

Among HIV-infected women, adding ECC did not increase detection of pre-cancerous disease significantly and treatment with LEEP+TH for ENL was comparable to treatment with LEEP for ECL.

Electrosurgical Detachment of MitraClips From the Anterior Mitral Leaflet Prior to Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that transcatheter electrosurgery might allow intentional detachment of previously placed MitraClip(s) from the anterior leaflet to recreate a single mitral orifice for transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI), leaving the retained MitraClip(s) securely fastened to the posterior leaflet and without interfering with the mitral bioprosthesis.

BACKGROUND

Patients with severe mitral regurgitation or stenosis despite edge-to-edge mitral repair with the MitraClip typically have few therapeutic options because the resultant double orifice precludes TMVI. Transcatheter electrosurgery may allow detachment of failed MitraClip(s) from the anterior leaflet to recreate a single orifice for TMVI.

METHODS

This was a single-center, 5-patient, consecutive, retrospective observational cohort. Patients underwent transcatheter electrosurgical laceration and stabilization of failed MitraClip(s) to recreate a single orifice, leaving the MitraClip(s) securely fastened to the posterior leaflet. Subsequently, patients underwent TMVI with an investigational device, the Tendyne mitral bioprosthesis, on a compassionate basis. Patients were followed up to 30 days.

RESULTS

MitraClip detachment from the anterior leaflet and Tendyne implantation were successful in all patients. All patients survived to discharge. All patients were discharged with grade 0 central mitral regurgitation. Two patients had moderate perivalvular mitral regurgitation that did not require reintervention. During the follow-up period of 30 days, there were no deaths, cases of valve dysfunction, or reintervention. There was no evidence of erosion or bioprosthetic valve dysfunction attributable to the retained MitraClip(s) still attached to the posterior leaflet.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcatheter electrosurgical detachment of failed MitraClips from the anterior leaflet followed by TMVI is technically feasible and safe at 30 days. Longer term study is needed to determine the clinical benefit of this approach and new algorithms for TMVI sizing following electrosurgical laceration and stabilization of a failed MitraClip to avoid perivalvular leak.

A Novel Bipolar Cautery Tool for Minimally-Invasive Neuroendoscopic Procedures

Electrosurgery is used in the operating room on a daily basis as a means to cut tissue and maintain hemostasis. The principle of this technology lies in the transfer of electricity from an electrosurgical unit to the operating site on a patient's body and modifying the waveform of that electricity to achieve the desired surgical effect. Bipolar cautery uses two electrodes, an active and a return, both at the surgical site to perform electrosurgery. Bipolar cautery can be very useful in helping surgeons to operate; however, current designs are not well suited to a 2.1 mm working channel in endoscopic procedures due to their rigid structure, limited range of motion, and bulky design. This paper describes a novel approach to designing a minimally- invasive bipolar cautery tool suitable for flexible neuroendoscopy. The system features 1.9 mm diameter bipolar tips which resemble grasping forceps, making it easier for surgeons to hold tissue while performing electrosurgery. The electrode wires also function as the actuating cables used to open and close the tips, which require 2.10 mm to open the tips to 30.9 °. The results show that the tool can safely cauterize a porcine brain specimen at various settings on the electrosurgical unit, and increasing the setting increases the area of tissue affected by the electricity. Repeatability was demonstrated and exhaustion was reached after the tool was opened and closed 73 times. Future work will involve improving the current design to increase the number of cycles the tool can survive before losing function.

Comparative Evaluation of Gingival Depigmentation by Scalpel, Electrosurgery, and Laser: A 14 Months' Follow-up Study

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to compare three different techniques using scalpel, electrosurgery, and laser for gingival depigmentation in terms of pain, discomfort, duration of procedure, wound healing, and repigmentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients in the age range of 24-38 years were briefed about the surgical procedure and an informed consent was obtained and they were randomly allocated into three groups of 10 individuals (5 males and 5 females) each: those undergoing depigmentation with scalpel (group I), electrosurgery (group II), and diode lasers (Biolase) (group III). Individuals of all three groups were asked to describe the level of pain and discomfort by using the visual analog scale (VAS) 2 hours, 24 hours, and 1 week postoperatively. Further, the groups were compared based on duration of procedure, wound healing, and repigmentation at the end of 14 months.

RESULTS

All the groups showed a decrease in the pain levels, which was statistically highly significant 1 week postoperatively when compared 24 hours postoperatively. There was a statistically significant difference in the pain levels between the scalpel, electrosurgery, and lasers groups after 24 hours (p < 0.001), with the lasers group demonstrating significantly less pain and discomfort. There was significant difference between the groups with respect to the duration of procedure, with less mean time for completion of the procedure observed for group III. Furthermore, less time for wound healing was observed in group III as compared to other groups. Total 8 out 10 patients in group I, 7 out of 10 patients in group II, and 2 out of 10 patients in group III showed repigmentation at the end of 14 months.

CONCLUSION

The rising concern for esthetic demand of an individual requires the removal of hyperpigmented gingival areas to create a confident and pleasing smile, which could be easily attained by using laser.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Laser is an effective and fast tool that causes less pain, discomfort, faster healing, and delayed repigmentation compared with scalpel or electrosurgery for gingival depigmentation.

Gynecological laparoscopic surgery in the shade of COVID-19 pandemic

A global public health problem with a high rate spread and transmission, Coronavirus outbreak has become the most talked-about matter throughout the world. We are severely affected by the nations with vast numbers of deaths; it was hard to predict such a colossal pandemic with terrifying consequences. Elective surgeries are limited, but situations requiring an urgent gynaecological or obstetric surgical approach must still be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns regarding surgical safety and the risk of viral transmission during surgery are of great importance. In this review, we aimed to summarize the concepts related to laparoscopic gynecological surgery during COVID-19 pandemic in the light of current literature.

Fast computation of soft tissue thermal response under deformation based on fast explicit dynamics finite element algorithm for surgical simulation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

During thermal heating surgical procedures such as electrosurgery, thermal ablative treatment and hyperthermia, soft tissue deformation due to surgical tool-tissue interaction and patient movement can affect the distribution of thermal energy induced. Soft tissue temperature must be obtained from the deformed tissue for precise delivery of thermal energy. However, the classical Pennes bio-heat transfer model can handle only the static non-moving state of tissue. In addition, in order to enable a surgeon to visualise the simulated results immediately, the solution procedure must be suitable for real-time thermal applications.

METHODS

This paper presents a formulation of bio-heat transfer under the effect of soft tissue deformation for fast or near real-time tissue temperature prediction, based on fast explicit dynamics finite element algorithm (FED-FEM) for transient heat transfer. The proposed thermal analysis under deformation is achieved by transformation of the unknown deformed tissue state to the known initial static state via a mapping function. The appropriateness and effectiveness of the proposed formulation are evaluated on a realistic virtual human liver model with blood vessels to demonstrate a clinically relevant scenario of thermal ablation of hepatic cancer.

RESULTS

For numerical accuracy, the proposed formulation can achieve a typical 10^-3 level of normalised relative error at nodes and between 10^-4 and 10^-5 level of total errors for the simulation, by comparing solutions against the commercial finite element analysis package. For computation time, the proposed formulation under tissue deformation with anisotropic temperature-dependent properties consumes 2.518 × 10^-4 ms for one element thermal loads computation, compared to 2.237 × 10^-4 ms for the formulation without deformation which is 0.89 times of the former. Comparisons with three other formulations for isotropic and temperature-independent properties are also presented.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to conventional methods focusing on numerical accuracy, convergence and stability, the proposed formulation focuses on computational performance for fast tissue thermal analysis. Compared to the classical Pennes model that handles only the static state of tissue, the proposed formulation can achieve fast thermal analysis on deformed states of tissue and can be applied in addition to tissue deformable models for non-linear heating analysis at even large deformation of soft tissue, leading to great translational potential in dynamic tissue temperature analysis and thermal dosimetry computation for computer-integrated medical education and personalised treatment.

Stabilization of Electrosurgical Cutting Performance Based on Electrode Speed

Electrosurgical cutting is used for surgical incisions and resections where hemostasis is important. Much research has been performed on electrosurgical generator control methods that can improve cutting performance. It is also known that speed of the electrode as it is applied to tissue can impact cutting performance. However little work has been done to tie electrode speed to generator improvements. In this paper, the theory of cutting is analyzed, and experiments are performed to determine the impacts of electrode speed combined with generator control methods. This analysis and the experiments demonstrate that 1) voltage control provides improvement to power control for cutting, 2) power factor control may further improve cutting, and 3) speed compensation is even more impactful in improving cutting performance.

Determination of Tissue Thermal Conductivity as a Function of Thermal Dose and Its Application in Finite Element Modeling of Electrosurgical Vessel Sealing

OBJECTIVE

Electrosurgical vessel sealing is a process commonly used to control bleeding during surgical procedures. Finite element (FE) modeling is often performed to obtain a better understanding of thermal spread during this process. The accuracy of the FE model depends on the implemented material properties. Thermal conductivity is one of the most important properties that affect temperature distribution. The goal of this study is to determine the tissue thermal conductivity as a function of thermal dose. Methods: We developed an iterative approach to correlating tissue thermal conductivity to more accurately calculated thermal dose, which cannot be experimentally measured. The resulting regression model was then implemented into an electrosurgical vessel sealing FE model to examine the accuracy of this FE model. Results: The results show that with the regression model, more reasonable temperature and thermal dose prediction can be achieved at the center of the sealed vessel tissue. The resulting electrical current and impedance from the FE model match with the experimental results. Conclusion: The developed approach can be used to determine the correlation between thermal dose and thermal conductivity. Describing the thermal conductivity as a function of thermal dose allows modeling of irreversible changes in tissue properties. Significance: By having a more accurate temperature estimation at the center of the sealed vessel, more insight is provided into how the tissue reacts during the vessel sealing process.

Experimental studies of the effect of electrosurgical and standard techniques on pancreatic restoration

OBJECTIVE

The aim: There have been investigated the specific features of pancreatic resection with the use of electrosurgical methods on experimental models of clinical operations. Pancreatic tissue regeneration at the surgical site have been studied when employing monopolar, bipolar, electric welding methods as compared with standard surgical technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: The study was performed on 40 white laboratory rats. Pancreatic resection was conducted by standard surgical technique or by welding with electrocoagulation device "Patonmed EWD-300", high-energy electrosurgical device in bipolar mode and in monopolar mode. The pancreatic tissue was examined immediately after the surgery and at 3, 7 and 21 days postoperatively.

RESULTS

Results: In early terms following standard surgery there was seen more severe inflammation and the volume of newly formed connective tissue got increased faster than after the electrosurgical technique. Pancreatic ducts developed in newly formed tissue after the use of each type of electroresection, whereas that event was not observed following standard surgery. When using electrosurgery in monopolar mode, the area of coagulative necrosis was found to be less dense than after resection performed in bipolar mode.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Based on the findings, we can conclude that each of the above types of electroresection reduces surgery time, lowers bleeding risks, contributes to formation of the more adequate sealing on the resection surface with no complications of the recovery process.

[Basic Law of Electrosurgical Cutting and Surface Adhesion Behavior of Stainless Steel Electrode]

In order to study the performance and surface adhesion behavior of high frequency electrosurgical unit, 304 stainless steel electrode was used for electrical cutting on fresh pork fillet in vitro. The effect of cutting rate on electrode temperature and cutting power on thermal damage and adhesion quality, and the mechanism of tissues adhered on the electrode surface were studied. The results show that the electrode temperature increases with the increase of the cutting power and moving rate. During the cutting process, cells break up to form micron particles and then accumulate on the surface of electrodes to form adhesion layer. The low thermostability of 304 leads to slight melting, which enlarges the bonding area between the adhesive and the matrix. Elements diffusion and enrichment are found at the edge of the adhesives and the electrode, which contributes to higher bonding force.

Effectiveness of topical and ablative therapies in treatment of anogenital warts: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To generate estimates of comparative clinical effectiveness for interventions used in the treatment of anogenital warts (AGWs) through the systematic review, appraisal and synthesis of data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

DESIGN

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of RCTs. Search strategies were developed for MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library and the Web of Science. For electronic databases, searches were run from inception to March 2018. The systematic review was carried out following the general principles recommended in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.

PARTICIPANTS

People aged ≥16 years with clinically diagnosed AGWs (irrespective of biopsy confirmation).

INTERVENTIONS

Topical and ablative treatments recommended by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV for the treatment of AGWs, either as monotherapy or in combination versus each other.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Complete clearance of AGWs at the end of treatment and at other scheduled visits, and rate of recurrence.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven RCTs met inclusion criteria. Twenty studies were assessed as being at unclear risk of bias, with the remaining studies categorised as high risk of bias. Network meta-analysis indicates that, of the treatment options compared, carbon dioxide laser therapy is the most effective treatment for achieving complete clearance of AGWs at the end of treatment. Of patient-applied topical treatments, podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution was found to be the most effective at achieving complete clearance, and was associated with a statistically significant difference compared with imiquimod 5% cream and polyphenon E 10% ointment (p<0.05). Few data were available on recurrence of AGWs after complete clearance. Of the interventions evaluated, surgical excision was the most effective at minimising risk of recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Of the studies assessed, as a collective, the quality of the evidence is low. Few studies are available that evaluate treatment options versus each other.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42013005457.

Effect of Cryotherapy vs Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure on Cervical Disease Recurrence Among Women With HIV and High-Grade Cervical Lesions in Kenya: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

The World Health Organization recommends cryotherapy or loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or higher regardless of HIV status. Cryotherapy is more feasible in resource-limited settings but may be less effective for women living with HIV.

Objective

To evaluate whether cryotherapy or LEEP is a more effective treatment for high-grade cervical lesions among women with HIV.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Single-center randomized trial conducted among women with HIV and CIN grade 2 or 3. From June 2011 to September 2016, women with HIV in Kenya underwent cervical screening with Papanicolaou testing and confirmatory biopsy. The final date on which a study procedure was administered was September 7, 2016.

Interventions

Women with HIV infection and CIN grade 2 or 3 were randomized 1:1 to receive cryotherapy (n = 200) or LEEP (n = 200) and were followed up every 6 months for 24 months with a Papanicolaou test and confirmatory biopsy.

Main Outcome and Measures

The primary outcome was disease recurrence, defined as CIN grade 2 or higher on cervical biopsy, during the 24-month follow-up period.

Results

Among 400 women who were randomized (median age, 37.4 [interquartile range, 31.9-43.8] years), 339 (85%) completed the trial. Over 2 years, 60 women (30%) randomized to cryotherapy had recurrent CIN grade 2 or higher vs 37 (19%) in the LEEP group (relative risk, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.12-2.65]; risk difference, 7.9% [95% CI, 1.9%-14.0%]; P = .01). Adverse events occurred in 40 women (45 events, including change in pathology and death due to other causes) in the cryotherapy group and in 30 women (38 events, including change in pathology and unrelated gynecological complications) in the LEEP group.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this single-center study of women with HIV infection and CIN grade 2 or 3, treatment with LEEP compared with cryotherapy resulted in a significantly lower rate of cervical neoplasia recurrence over 24 months. Cost-effectiveness analysis is necessary to determine whether the additional benefit of LEEP represents an efficient use of the additional resources that would be required.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01298596.