An experimental study of hot air thermocoagulation in cardiac surgery

Recently a thermocoagulator using hot air has been developed. It has been used for haemostatic purposes in a number of cases of liver, pulmonary and retroperitoneal cancer surgery. An experimental animal study was undertaken to evaluate the use of the thermocoagulator during cardiac surgery. Since the thermocoagulator produces coagulation necrosis, the epi-/myocardium including the epicardial coronary arteries was investigated microscopically for acute and chronic histopathological changes. The investigation demonstrated that the thermocoagulator is an effective hemostatic tool during cardiac surgery. The histological examination of the hearts has shown that the technique does not damage the myocardium or the coronary arteries neither at the time of application nor in the long term.