Comparison of mechanical and in vivo performance of new and reprocessed harmonic scalpels

Carotid artery bursting pressure and seal time after multiple uses of a vessel sealing device

“…This practice will likely continue into the foreseeable future therefore, additional research is necessary to develop guidelines and best practices. Previous studies have investigated efficacy of sterilization when using reprocessed laparoscopic equipment, trocars, and diathermy pencils; others have evaluated the efficacy of vessel sealing devices after a single reprocessing cycle, but there is a lack of evidence to strongly support equipment safety and efficacy of single‐use electrothermal bipolar thermal sealers after numerous uses and resterilizations …”

“…Previous studies have investigated efficacy of sterilization when using reprocessed laparoscopic equipment, trocars, and diathermy pencils; others have evaluated the efficacy of vessel sealing devices after a single reprocessing cycle, but there is a lack of evidence to strongly support equipment safety and efficacy of single-use electrothermal bipolar thermal sealers after numerous uses and resterilizations. [6][7][8][9][10][11] The purpose of this study was to evaluate performance of a commonly used vessel sealing device using an ex vivo canine carotid artery model to determine if there is significant loss of function after repeated sterilization and reuse. We hypothesized the time to achieve an effective seal would increase over time and the bursting pressure of the vessel seal would decrease after reuse, but bursting pressures would remain greater than physiologic canine arterial systolic pressure.…”