Experimental Study of Effects of the Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator on the Vascular System

Abstract

The effects of an ultrasonic surgical aspirator on the vascular system was evaluated in 12 mongrel dogs. The pathologic effects of the device were investigated in femoral vessels by light and electron scanning microscopies and the physiologic effects by measuring the internal mammary arterial and femoral venous blood flow.Changes in the intimal surface of arteries (platelet aggregation and fibrin network formation) were more frequent at higher vibration amplitudes, while such changes were less common in the vein. Disintegration and loss of the vascular wall did not extend beyond the adventitia. There was no obvious change in the blood flow pattern or flow rate after administration of ultrasonic vibrations.The results showed that by keeping the output below 110 microns and using the aspirator together with other conventional surgical devices for dissection, damages to the vascular wall may be held to a minimum. This device can be a very useful supplementary tool in cardiovascular surgery.