Obstetrics and Gynecology surgeries often require a high degree of precision: female reproductive organs are tiny, delicate and easily compromised unless extreme care is exercised. In the past, electrosurgery was the gold standard for surgeries requiring a high level of bleeding control and the smallest possible surgical field; however, the advent of J-Plasma technology offers advantages over electrosurgery that are especially beneficial to Obstetrics and Gynecology. This is a change.
Functionality
J-Plasma technology uses inert helium gas to create a cold plasma that passes through a retractable surgical blade which can be used in tandem with the plasma stream at the surgeon’s discretion. This greatly increases functionality by enabling the surgeon to perform excision and coagulation with the push of a button located on the instrument, and eliminating the need for multiple instruments. J-Plasma technology creates a streamlined surgical procedure by enabling the surgeon to press a single button for immediate transition from one modality to another, i.e.; from coagulation to cutting, or dissection to fulguration, reducing inadvertent tissue damage and improving surgical outcomes.
Thermal Spread
J-Plasma technology provides the benefit of minimizing collateral tissue damage for patients requiring obstetrical and gynecological surgeries. A recent white paper by Jasmine Pedroso, MD MPH and Melissa Gutierrez MD, MPH of Las Vegas Minimally Invasive Surgery illustrates the differences in the width and depth of thermal spread between the J-Plasma device, a monopolar electrosurgery unit (ESU), a bipolar argon beam coagulator (ABC) and a CO2 laser, in a porcine tissue model.
Using equivalent power settings to evaluate thermal damage, the J-Plasma device demonstrated lateral thermal spread comparable to, or less than, the CO2 laser and the monopolar ESU device with the argon bipolar coagulator (ABC) demonstrating approximately three times as much in bladder and small intestine tissues. The maximum depth of thermal spread recorded by the J-Plasma device was consistent with, or slightly less than, that of the CO2 laser with the monopolar ESU and the bipolar ABC units both being significantly higher.
Decreased Heat Retention
The J-Plasma instrument also does not retain heat after application allowing surgeons to transition immediately from one functionality to another. A March 2010 study by Sutton PA, Awad S and Lobo DM, showed that some monopolar instruments retain significant heat after application, taking as long as 15 seconds to return to a safe temperature below 42 degrees Celsius.
Cooling and Clearing the Surgical Site
By increasing the flow of the helium gas, the J-Plasma device produces cooling which protects delicate tissue from unnecessary damage, and enables the surgeon to gently push aside surgical debris or blood to access underlying tissue.
Cold plasma technology is a viable alternative for Obstetrics and Gynecology surgeries; its smaller surgical fields may lead to faster recuperative rates, less post-surgical pain and decreased incidence of complications, reducing the need for hospital stays and protracted pain management, improving quality of care and patient satisfaction.
Bovie Medical is pleased to make available the J-Plasma cold plasma device as another adjunct for progressive surgical applications.
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