Laparoscopic ablation of endometriosis using the cavitational ultrasonic surgical aspirator

J M Vasquez, Jaime M. Vasquez, Esther Eisenberg, Eisenberg E, Estner Eisenberg, E Eisenberg, Osteen KG, Kevin G. Osteen, K G Osteen, Hickerson D, D Hickerson, Diane Hickerson, Darren Hickerson, M P Diamond, Michael P. Diamond
The Journal of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists · 1993 · vol. 1(1) , pp. 36–42 · doi:10.1016/s1074-3804(05)80756-x · PMID:9050458 · W2024275096
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This paper describes the use of the cavitational ultrasonic surgical aspirator for laparoscopic ablation of endometriosis.

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Abstract

Surgical modalities such as electrosurgery and lasers have been used for many years to treat endometriosis. They are relatively unselective with wide scatter, however, leading to the potential for significant tissue damage and injury. As an alternative, a technique for performing laparoscopic excision and adhesiolysis using a cavitational ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) was developed and studied in 15 patients. Endometriosis was removed using a prototype titanium probe developed for a 10-mm laparoscopic port. The ultrasonic laparoscopic probe consisted of an acoustic vibrator, a coupling device, a removable tip, and a protective flue. Vibrations from the acoustic vibrator (magnetostrictive device) were conveyed to the operating tip through a coupling piece. The magnetostrictive device consisted of nickel alloy laminations 10.8 cm in length that transformed electrical energy into mechanical motion at the hollow titanium tip, vibrating at a frequency of 23 kHz. The excursion of the tip (amplitude setting) was arbitrarily set, with a fixed stroke of 200 microm in all cases to remove tissue with a 1- to 2-mm radius of the vibrating tip. The tip was tapered to obtain greater amplitude and ablation efficiency. When placed in contact with the endometriotic implants and adhesions, it destroyed and emulsified the cell membranes, which were irrigated and removed through a built-in suction tube. The resulting debris and irrigating fluid were removed through the hollow central portion of the probe. The vibrating tip was moved over the surgical site in a back-and-forth motion to allow continuous, controlled removal. Vessels larger than 0.5 mm in diameter, nerves, and fibrous tissue capsules rebounded with the ultrasonic vibration waves emitted by the CUSA, and thus were unimpaired by the procedure. The consistency of tissues was sensed accurately when the tip of the device was in contact with them. This tactile feedback was helpful in enabling the surgeon to differentiate target tissues. The future application of this instrument awaits the outcome of research.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Laparoscopes Suction Surgical Equipment Ultrasonic Therapy Adult Endometriosis Equipment Design Female Gynecology Gynecology Humans Middle Aged Suction Treatment Outcome Ultrasonic Therapy Vibration

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (54)

SciLite annotations

chemicals 3
titanium nickel titanium

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