Efficiency and safety of bipolar vessel and tissue sealing in visceral surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the efficiency and safety of the bipolar tissue/vessel sealing and cutting device EnSeal (TM) in comparison to the conventional clamp and ligation technique in visceral surgery. Material and methods: In an acute animal model, a part of the small bowel, a part of the colon and the kidneys were resected either with the conventional clamp and ligation technique or with EnSeal (TM). Operation time, blood loss and blood parameters as well as the lateral thermal spread were evaluated. Results: Small bowel, colon and kidney resection time with the EnSeal (TM) device was shorter compared to the conventional clamp and ligation technique (small bowel: EnSeal (TM) : 4.7 +/- 1.0 min vs. con: 35.1 +/- 2.3 min; colon: EnSeal (TM) : 7.0 +/- 1.4 min vs. con: 16.3 +/- 1.5 min, kidney: EnSeal (TM) : 5.7 +/- 1.3 min vs. con: 16.7 +/- 3.7 min, p < 0.05) and blood loss was significantly lower. Blood analysis demonstrated no differences in both groups. The lateral thermal spread was not more than 1 mm with EnSeal (TM) Conclusion: The bipolar sealing in visceral surgery with EnSeal (TM) can be performed more efficiently in a shorter time, with significantly less blood loss, minimal thermal damage and without changes of blood parameters, indicating biological safety and integrity.