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[Use of a water-jet dissector during hepatectomy]
1Service de chirurgie générale, centre hépato-biliaire, hôpital Paul-Brousse, université Paris XI, Villejuif, France.
Study Aim:
A new water jet cutting system was used by an hepatobiliary surgical team for hepatectomy in ten patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess advantages and disadvantages of this new apparatus for liver dissection.
Material And Method:
This procedure uses the mechanical power of water jet under pressure in the liver incision. The study concerned feasibility of the hepatectomy, the ease of use of the apparatus and volume of the blood loss.
Results:
The water jet was very easy to use and of maintenance (bag of sterile saline in a non sterile pressurized container, disposable handpiece). Any liver resection could be performed using this tool, independently of the liver consistency. There was no decrease in the duration of surgery and the blood loss compared to the ultrasonic cutting system. Minor splashing, bubbles and mist impaired the accuracy of the vascular dissection.
Conclusion:
The water jet dissector used in this series is a simple, economic and useful tool to perform liver resection.