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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2005;28:604-606
© 2005 Elsevier Science NL

Original articles

Lung biopsy using harmonic scalpel: a randomised single institute study

^a Bristol Cardiothoracic Centre, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 6 HW, UK
^b Thoracic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
^c Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary

Received 22 April 2005; received in revised form 16 June 2005; accepted 20 June 2005.

^* Corresponding author. Address: Bristol Cardiothoracic Centre, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 6 HW, UK. Tel.: +44 1179284212; fax: +44 1179283522. (Email: tamas.molnar{at}ubht.swest.nhs.uk).

Abstract

Objective: Applicability of harmonic scalpel in lung biopsy was investigated in a randomised single institute study. Methods: Safety of the method, morbidity, drainage duration and in-hospital stays were compared in two randomised groups of patients in which either ultrasonic harmonic scalpel (n:20) or endostapler (n:20) were used for pulmonary biopsies during VATS. Results: An advantage of 16min in average operation time was found in favour of the harmonic scalpel (30.75 vs 46.9min) which was significant. There were no differences in average drainage duration (40.2 vs 30.6h) and pleural fluid volume (258 vs 232ml). Minor complication rates (3 vs 3) were identical and in-hospital stays (7.6 vs 7.2 days) were also similar. Conclusions: Overall, the vibration transmission method was shown not to be inferior to the standard endostapling technique. A safe new method offers an alternative technique for peripherial lung biopsy.

Key Words: Harmonic scalpel • VATS • Diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) • Lung biopsy • Postoperative complication • Air leak

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. J. Fibla, L. Molins, C. Simon, J. Perez, and G. Vidal Early removal of chest drainage after videothoracoscopic lung biopsy Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, October 1, 2006; 5(5): 581 - 583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. F. Molnar, I. Benko, Z. Szanto, T. Laszlo, and O. P. Horvath Reply to fibla et Al. Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., April 1, 2006; 29(4): 640 - 641. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Fibla, L. Molins, J. Perez, and G. Vidal Early removal of chest drainage and outpatient program after videothoracoscopic lung biopsy. Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., April 1, 2006; 29(4): 639 - 640. [Full Text] [PDF]