Comparative healing of surgical incisions created by the PEAK PlasmaBlade, conventional electrosurgery, and a scalpel.

摘要: Background: The PEAK PlasmaBlade is a new electrosurgical device that uses pulsed radiofrequency to generate plasma-mediated discharge along the exposed rim of an insulated blade, creating effective cutting edge while blade stays near body temperature. Methods: Full-thickness incisions were made on dorsums pigs with PlasmaBlade,aconventionalelectrosurgicaldevice,andascalpel,andbloodloss was quantified. Wounds harvested at designated time points, tested for wound tensile strength, and examined histologically scar formation tissue damage. Results: Bleeding reduced significantly (59 percent) in compared scalpel incisions, acute thermal damage from (66 5 m) less than both cut coagulation mode (456 35 m 615 22 m, respectively). Histologic scoring injury strength equivalent between incisions. By 6 weeks, healed approximately three times stronger, cosmetic appearance better Conclusions: promising surgical instrument provides atraumatic, scalpel-like precision electrosurgical-like hemostasis, resulting minimal bleeding, injury, formation. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 124: 1849, 2009.)