HEMOSTASIS AFTER PARTIAL-HEPATECTOMY USING ARGON BEAM COAGULATION

The argon beam coagulator is a new device for haemostasis during and a fter surgery on parenchymatous organs. No data are available on its ef ficacy and tissue effect following hepatic resection. Blood loss, the time needed to achieve adequate haemostasis and histological findings after liver resection were assessed in 12 pigs using argon beam coagul ation or suture ligation only, the mattress suture technique and tissu e glue application. The treatment was randomly assigned to each of the four liver lobes in each pig. Median blood loss following argon beam coagulation was 13 (range 2-47) mi and after simple suture ligation 55 (range 2-260) ml(P<0.02). The median time needed for adequate haemost asis following argon beam coagulation was 3 (range 2-7) min versus 14 (range 2-48) min in the control group (P<0.005). There was no differen ce between argon beam coagulation and tissue glue, which were both sup erior to the use of mattress sutures. Argon beam coagulation resulted in less tissue damage than tissue glue or mattress suturing. The argon beam coagulator is an efficient device for achieving haemostasis foll owing partial hepatectomy in the pig. rt causes only a moderate tissue reaction.