BLOODLESS SURGERY.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17991, 9 April 1930, Page 13

BLOODLESS SURGERY.

MARVEL IN WELLINGTON. ELECTRIC “ KNIFE.' A needle emitting an electric spark which bites through human flesh with rapidity, and seals as it goes, so that the minimum of blood is spilt this is the latest wonder of surgery, the electric “knife,” one of which, it is understood, will shortly be in use at the. Wellington Hospital. One of these machines has been imported by a Wellington firm, and was inspected by a Dominion representatUfn these days of advanced medical science it is difficult to realise that not so many years ago men who suffered severe wounds or mutilation often died from loss of blood, that the operating table was a place of conscious horror because anaesthetics were unknown, that men and women suffered agonies, undreamed of by -the moderns, whose surgeons are equipped with all the humanitarian devices that science has produced since. Now a further advance has been made by applying the great servant electricity to surgery in such a way as to enable practically bloodless operations to be performed, besides creating another weapon against, cancer. Operation on a Steak. In the demonstration given the subject was a piece of raw meat on a metal plate. From the latter a terminal ran to the machine —known as a diathermy machine —while another terminal was connected to the operating instrument. This instrument is in shape and size almost as a fountain pen, out of the end of which projects what might be an ordinary sewing needle. The coupling handle was adjusted so that the machine would give nearly its maximum of electric current when the switch was turned. Then the machine was set in operation. AH that occurred was a faint buzzing, while the needle remained innocent. Wielding the instrument lightly as if he were going to make an inscription on the steak, the operator drew the needle lightly over the meat. Immediately a torrent of' sparks passed between the needle and the meat, and the tissues parted cleanly as if cut by a keen, steel scalpel. A faint acrid odour ■ arose as the needle slipped through the meat, needing no pressure to ensure its work.

While it was cutting, however, the needle was also performing another operation—that of sealing the blood vessels. The walls of the deep incision, plain to the eye, were whitened —coagulated. The needle had played the part of a scalpel, and at the same time it had sealed the minute blood vessels.

“That smell of burning does not occur in a real operation because the moisture of human flesh prevents burning,” said the operator, “This piece of meat is bled, 'and is dry in comparison.” It is claimed by those who use the electric needle that it cuts as effectively as a scalpel, and in routine operative work it greatly decreases loss of blood because it seals the minor blood vessels by the heat generated in its own cutting. By slight regulation of the current the 'operation proceeds more or less rapidly. The dissection’ is clearer, more rapid, and more satisfactory than any knife work. There is much less mopping and delay over capillary oozing, while larger vessels are often seen and clamped before they are divided, and later coagulated and dropped if necessary. There is throughout less handling of the wound. So clean is the cut that the flesh seems to separate of its own accord on each side of the advancing needle.

Flame Cuts, Not Needle. Actually it is not the needle that cuts the flesh, but the flame, and the operator feels no sensation of resistance as he moves the needle forward. The reason for this is that a fllm-like arc surrounds the needle. As the needle enters the tissue it does not make actual contact with the latter, but is separated from it by a film of incandescent air, or arc. As the needle is moved forward the arc accompanies it and cleaves the tissue, at the same time causing the coagulation of the divided tissues. Complete anaesthesia of the patient is usually necessary, though in the case of small growths in suitable patients a local anaesthetic may be given. ’ Types of diathermic machines are at present in fairly common use, but they are mostly for the purpose of creating heat in a particular portion of the body or in the limbs. These machines can be applied 'to the operating needle, although only for coagulating purposes. One of these machines was also inspected and tested by a Dominion representative.

When Mr Sampson Handley was attending the British Medical Association Conference in Wellington last year he demonstrated ttie diathermic needle at the Wellington Hospital, performing an extensive cancer operation on a woman and congealing the severed blood vessels with the needle. It is considered 'that the needle will be a valuable asset to surgery in the treatment of cancer, as . the sealing of the tissues prevents the blood flowing and spreading the cancer germs. At present 'there are live machines in New Zealand, the New Plymouth and Christchurch Hospitals having one each, while three private practitioners each have one. Installations are also to be mdae at the Wellington and Auckland Hospitals. In the “Medical Journal and Record”, for July, 1925, Howard A. Kelly, M.D., says: ‘‘We have here a remarkably startling invention and innovation, for probably the last thing any one of us ever anticipated was that the timehonoured scalpel, badge of our office as surgeons, as it were, would ever find a successful rival! How unsafe it is to prophesy!”