Improved Patient Safety Due to Catheter-Based Gas Bubble Removal During TURBT

Abstract

TURBT (transurethral resection of bladder tumor) is a standard treatment for bladder cancer. Gas bubble formation is caused by the heating of the RF-electrode from the resectoscope, which causes visual impairments and can also lead to explosive gas formation. The purpose of this work is to find a proper technical solution for removing the air bubbles and toxic gases during electro-resection thereby providing patient safety as well as better operating comfort for surgeons. A continuously controlled irrigation system and catheter based simultaneous suction system was designed, implemented and tested, with an average removal rate of 70% of the air bubbles and gases that appeared inside the urinary bladder. The setup was tested using a dedicated phantom.