[Contrivance to Use Ultrasonic Scalpel for Laparoscopic Surgery during Internal Thoracic Artery Harvest]

From April 2024, manufacturing of short-shaft ultrasonic scalpels( SNGHK) has ceased. A scalpel for laparoscopic surgery (HDH05) remains available;however, its long shaft is unsuitable for internal thoracic artery harvesting through a median sternotomy. We contrived to make the latter device easier to handle using a method that requires no specialized parts. Three tubes( a 22 Fr polyvinyl chloride catheter and two extracorporeal circuit tubes, 6 mm and 10 mm in diameter;all about 18 cm long) are prepared and incised vertically. The tubes are installed around the shaft from the handpiece side. The enlarged diameter of the shaft then permits the scalpel tip to be held closer to the surgical area, allowing delicate procedures to be carried out more securely.