A bloodless technique for tongue surgery

The Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA System) has been used at our institution in the resection of carcinoma of the tongue in 10 patients. This device is an ultrasonically powered aspirator that selectively fragments and aspirates tissue within a 1- to 2-mm radius of its tip. The technique used in our unit in tongue surgery was to incise the touch mucosal capsule of the tongue with electrocautery, and then to divide muscle and skeletonize blood vessels using the CUSA System. Smaller vessels, up to 2 mm in size, were cauterized directly by the friction created at the tip of the instrument. In this way, excellent control was available at all times and blood loss was consequently minimal. As our experience in the use of the CUSA System increased, blood loss was virtually eliminated, anatomic landmarks were more easily defined, and at no stage did any tongue necrosis occur in any of the patients of the series.