Ultrasonic surgical dissection in the dog spleen.

Abstract Using the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator were were able to perform successfully and without difficulty subtotal splenic resections in the dog with minimal blood loss. The instruments provides (1) the ability to perform precise tissue resection in a wellvisualized surgical field with minimal adjacent tissue damage, (2) the ability to dissect, without damaging, vascular channels greater than 2 mm in diameter, and (3) the ability to cauterize smaller vascular channels and afford primary parenchymal hemostasis. Although the procedure appears slow, it is in fact rapid and efficacious because problems related to a bloody, obscured surgical field and difficulty in isolating retracted vessels are obviated in the friable spleen. Furthermore, the lines of transection are sharp, maintaining viable tissue margins. Based on the foregoing research, we feel that this technique is a viable and highly desirable method of splenic resection, now ready to be assessed in splenic conservation in the human.