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Zero-Heat Internal Thoracic Artery Harvesting Using Water Jet: An Experimental Study
Yoshinori Nakahara1, Akira Marui1, Kohei Sumi1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Sakakibara Heart Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
Purpose:
To evaluate the feasibility and safety of internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting using water jet (WJ) technology.
Description:
The ERBEJET 2 (Erbe) hydrosurgical system was used to harvest ITAs in a skeletonized fashion. The device settings were optimized at 30 bar for selective tissue dissection while preserving vessels.
Evaluation:
Bilateral ITAs were harvested from 2 swine using WJ on one side and electrocautery on the other. Tissue samples (WJ n = 19, electrocautery n = 25) were histologically evaluated for coagulation (graded 0-4) and hemorrhage (graded 0-3). Coagulation was less frequent in the WJ group (26.3% vs 96.0%, P < .01) with lower grades (0.42 ± 0.77 vs 2.44 ± 0.82, P < .01). Hemorrhage occurred in all samples but was less severe in the WJ group (1.11 ± 0.32 vs 1.88 ± 0.97, P < .01). No thermal injuries were observed in either group.
Conclusions:
WJ harvesting of ITAs demonstrated less tissue damage compared with electrocautery, suggesting its potential as an alternative approach.
