Utility of a microwave surgical instrument in sealing lymphatic vessels

BackgroundThis study assessed the ability of a novel microwave coagulation surgical instrument (MWCX) to seal lymphatic vessels when compared with LigaSure (Valleylab, Boulder, CO), the Harmonic Scalpel (HS; Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH), and electric cautery.MethodsThe burst pressure of pig inguinal lymphatic vessels was assessed after the sealing of vessels with each surgical instrument. The rate of lymphorrhea from pig mesenteric lymphatic vessels was also investigated using indocyanine green and visualized with the Photodynamic Eye system (Hamamatsu Hotoniks, Hamamatsu, Japan).ResultsBurst pressures were higher with MWCX (average, 300 mm Hg), LigaSure (average, 290 mm Hg), and HS (average, 253 mm Hg) when compared with electric cautery (average, 152.3 mm Hg; vs MWCX: P = .002, vs LigaSure: P = .002, vs HS: P = .004). The rate of lymphorrhea was significantly lower with LigaSure (13.3%), HS (18.8%), and MWCX (13.3%) when compared with electric cautery (77.3%; vs LigaSure: P < .001, vs HS: P < .001, vs MWCX: P < .001).ConclusionsMWCX was equivalent to LigaSure and HS in terms of the ability to seal lymphatic vessels.