Liver operations tend to be from the bleeding. The patient may lose between half and two liters of blood during surgery, which makes it essential for blood transfusion. But a new electric knife that cuts at the same time that seals the wound has reduced these losses to a negligible amount: up to 5 milliliters of blood.
The new device not only saves on blood transfusions, but also the patient recovers faster. “In liver surgery fight constantly against the bleeding because the liver has many blood vessels, every minute that passes is crucial,” says Fernando Burdi, a researcher at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, which has developed the surgical instrument with the University of Zaragoza and the Polytechnic University of Valencia. While cutting, the new blade using radiofrequency current application of heat in the area, so that no more cutting the body and blood clots caused by the wound.
To lose less blood flow during the postoperative period the patient is stronger and recovered before. You also avoid complications, because the bank “has an immunosuppressive effect that increases the risk of infections,” says Burdi. In short, “the hospital stay is shortened from 11 to five days, according to the study,” says Burdi. (more…)
