TISSUE-INJURY OF INJECTION-GOLD-PROBE

Background: The Injection Gold Probe, which incorporates an injection needle and a bipolar electrocoagulation probe, potentially offers bett er anchoring of the probe for electrocoagulation. This study compares the tissue injury caused by the Injection Gold Probe with or without p rotrusion of the needle. Methods: A 10F Injection Gold Probe was appli ed perpendicularly on the antrum of porcine stomach. At each site of t esting, one pulse of treatment at 12 W was given for 10 seconds. The e xtent of tissue injury was studied under different forces of applicati on (light touch or maximal force) and different probe conditions (need le-in, needle-out, needle-out plus 1 mt saline solution injection). Ea ch maneuver was repeated 8 times. The depth and width of tissue injury were assessed histologically by a pathologist blinded to the treatmen t. Results: The depth and width of tissue injury did not differ signif icantly with needle-in, needle-out, or needle-out plus 1 mt saline sol ution injection on both light touch. But the tissue injury was signifi cantly deeper and wider with maximal force applications than with ligh t touch under the same probe condition. Conclusion: The extent of tiss ue injury inflicted by electrocoagulation using the Injection Gold Pro be is not affected by the position of the injection needle.