Background: Bloodless dry fields are indispensable for successful and safe neurosurgical operations using microscopes. Appropriate irrigation and suction systems are needed to obtain clear surgical fields. We invented a novel malleable continuous suction tube to address this need.
Methods: We developed a malleable tube (MT) made of ultrathin stainless-steel foil (≈5 μm in thickness, 3.0 mm in diameter, 15 cm in length) contained between ultrafine stainless-steel wire mesh (50 μm in diameter) woven tubes. The MT was applied in an intraoperative continuous fluid suction system, connecting it to a conventional vacuum system through a device.
Results: The MT can be placed at any part of the operative field, preferably close to its edges, without disturbing surgeon manipulation. This continuous suction system has been tested in neurosurgical operations and has shown excellent potential for maintaining the operative field clear and dry without any side effect or trauma on adjacent tissues.
Conclusions: The newly developed malleable suction tube is effective for microsurgery.
Keywords: Continuous drainage; Malleable suction tube; Microsurgery.
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