Effects of electrode shape on electrocoagulation results for varicose veins / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare electrocoagulation effects of three types of electrodes for varicose veins.Methods Twelve dogs(24 veins in hind limbs)were randomly divided into 3 groups with 4 dogs in each groupcolumnar electrode group,circular electrode group,and radial electrode group.Each dog's long saphenous veins were high ligated and electrocoagulated.The activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT)was measured and pathological examinations(HE and Weigert)were performed immediately following operation and on the 7th and the 14th postoperative day,respectively.The destruction depth and extent,residual vessels,and skin burn after electrocoagulation were compared among the three groups.Results One case of skin burn on the left hind limb occurred in the columnar electrode group.Immediately following the operation,the number of vessels that were destroyed beyond 50% of perimeter in the radial electrode group was 8,which was significantly higher than that in the columnar electrode group(3 vessels)and the circular electrode group(4 vessels)(Fisher's exact test,P=0.013 and 0.038),and the number of vessels that were destroyed deep to the meddle membrane in the radial electrode group was 1,which was significantly lower than that in the columnar electrode group(7 vessels)and the circular electrode group(6 vessels)(Fisher's exact test,P=0.005 and 0.020).On the 7th day after operation,there was no statistical difference among the 3 groups in the number of vessels with remnant area above 50% of the perimeter(?2=5.371,P=0.068).On the 14th day after operation,the number of vessels with remnant area above 50% of the perimeter in the radial electrode group(1 vessel)was significantly lower than that in the columnar electrode group(7 vessels)and the circular electrode group(6 vessels)(Fisher's exact test,P=0.005 and 0.020).There was no statistical difference among 3 groups in APTT immediately following operation and on the 7th and the 14th postoperative day(P=0.905,0.871,and 0.865).Conclusions Compared with the other two catheters,radial electrode has the largest destroyed area,the smallest remnant area of the vessel,and the lowest risk of skin burn.