Vessel sealer and divider instrument temperature during laparoscopic ovariectomy in horses.
Authors: Easley Jeremiah T, McGilvray Kirk C, Hendrickson Dean A, Bruemmer Jason, Hackett Eileen S
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Vessel Sealer and Divider Instrument Temperature During Laparoscopic Ovariectomy in Horses Laparoscopic ovariectomy is an increasingly common procedure in standing mares, but the thermal characteristics of electrosurgical instruments used in this minimally invasive approach have not been systematically evaluated. Jeremiah and colleagues measured tip temperatures of a blunt-tipped vessel sealer and divider device during unilateral paralumbar ovariectomy in 15 healthy mares, using thermocouples adhered directly to the instrument tip to capture real-time temperature data throughout the surgical procedure. The instrument reached median peak temperatures of 77°C (interquartile range 72–85°C) during activation cycles and 64°C (61–67°C) at cycle end, with a median temperature increase of 2°C per activation cycle over the median 4.1 minutes of total instrument use during 30-minute procedures. Although all mares recovered without significant complications, the clinical implications of these temperatures—particularly regarding inadvertent thermal injury to adjacent viscera—remain unclear, and the authors appropriately emphasise that surgeons should exercise caution when using these instruments near sensitive tissues and advocate for further investigation into whether thermal effects become problematic during more complex procedures such as adhesiolysis or intestinal resection. For practitioners performing or assisting with laparoscopic ovariectomy, this research underscores the importance of meticulous instrument positioning and awareness that cumulative thermal effects could theoretically compound during longer or more complex intra-abdominal procedures.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Vessel sealer and divider instruments reach temperatures that could potentially cause thermal injury to adjacent tissues; exercise caution when working near vital viscera during laparoscopic procedures
- •Current evidence suggests these instruments are safe for ovariectomy when used appropriately, but surgeons should be aware of cumulative heating effects, especially during longer procedures
- •Further investigation is needed regarding instrument safety during more complex procedures such as adhesiolysis or intestinal resection where prolonged use or proximity to sensitive tissues may be greater
Key Findings
- •Vessel sealer and divider tip temperatures reached 77°C during activation and 64°C at end cycle during laparoscopic ovariectomy
- •Median instrument activation time was 4.1 minutes per 30-minute procedure
- •Median temperature increase per activation cycle was 2°C (range -1 to 6°C)
- •All 15 mares returned to intended use with minimal surgical complications despite observed temperatures