Coagulating intermittent cutting. Improved high-frequency surgery in transurethral prostatectomy

In spite of the high and lasting efficiency of transurethral prostatectomy, intraoperative blood loss results in increased morbidity in this procedure . This led to the development of many alternative treatment modalities in t he last years. To minimize the risk of bleeding, we improved the high-frequ ency technology in several steps. To achieve this, the output signals of co mmercially available high-frequency generators were modulated to the effect that each cut results in an efficient coagulation zone in the tissue at ex cellent cutting quality, laboratory and in vitro studies using porcine kidn eys as well as clinical trials showed good cutting characteristics accompan ied by a significant reduction of bleeding. As a result, blood transfusions were less necessary, the transurethral catheter could be removed earlier i n the postoperative period, and hospitalization time was significantly redu ced. In conclusion, the improved high-frequency technology in form of the " coagulating intermittent cutting" results in a blood-sparing tissue resecti on with a consecutive reduction of morbidity.