FLS Flashcards
Laparoscopes come in what range of diameters?
2 mm - 10 mm
Laparoscopes come in what range of lengths?
30 cm - 45 cm
What is the most common lens system used?
Hopkins Rod Lens System
Which size scopes are more susceptible to damage?
Increases as length increases
Increases as diameter decreases
When is a 0 degree laparoscopic most helpful?
working in a small area in line with the scope and working ports
I.E. Deep in the pelvis or high in the mediastinum
What causes fogging of the laparoscope?
temperature and humidity discrepancy between the OR and peritoneal cavity
What is the commonly used gas of laparoscopy?
Carbon Dioxide
What are the benefits of using carbon dioxide for laparoscopy?
- Readily Available
- Inexpensive
- Does not support combustion
- Easily eliminated
- Rapidly Absorbed
What equipment controls the supply of CO2 gas from the source to the abdomen?
Insufflator
What settings need to be set on the insufflator?
- Max Abdominal Pressure (15)
- Gas Flow Rate
How can you prevent loss of pneumoperitoneum when suctioning?
Fully submersing the suction cannula below the fluid
What should you do if there is loss of working space during laparoscopy?
Check insufflator settings immediately!
What could be the cause of the problem if measured pressure is > than set pressure?
Relaxation problem or insufflation obstruction
What could be the problem if there is low pressure and high flow?
Gas leak!
Check insufflation circuit:
- Tubing disconnected
- Port leaking
- Valve at trocar is open
- CO2 escaping into hollow organs (check organ distention or inflation of the foley bag)
What could be the problem if there is low pressure and no flow?
Insufflator/Gas problem!
- Check insufflator is on
- Check CO2 tank
Describe the circuit of monopolar current
- Low frequency current from wall source (generator)
- High frequency current in active electrode (lap instrument)
- The tissue the current passes through
- Dispersive electrode connect to the generator
Describe coagulation setting on monopolar
*Protein denaturation and reformation
Occurs as a result of tissue heating- as temp is > 60 C, protein denaturation occurs
When tissue cools bonds are reformed in a haphazard fashion
Describe cut setting on monopolar
*Water evaporation/desiccation
As temp rises, water is evaporated, as desiccation increases, tissue impedance increases
When complete desiccation occurs, current stops flowing due to high resistance
Hemostasis achieved by protein binding between dehydrated/denatures cells of the vessel endothelium
What is “tissue heating” dependent on?
= (Current density)^2 = the amount of current flowing through a cross-sectional area of tissue
How does current density relate to applied power?
They are directly proportional
How does current density relate to tissue resistance?
Indirectly proportional
the smaller the contact area, the faster the heating
Tip of the active electrode is so small, contacting a small area of tissue delivers a lot of current density
Conversely, large area of tissue contact for the dispersive electrode (bovie pad) makes for low current density and minimal heating
Where should you avoid placing the bovie pad?
Hairy skin
Boney prominence
Scars
**these decrease the contact surface area and thus increase the risk of burn to the patient
Describe the voltage pattern for cut vs coag
Cut = shorter amplitude of voltage, more frequent spikes
Coag= higher amplitude of voltage, less frequent spikes
Describe coagulation setting
Rapid surface heating
Superficial eschar formation
SHALLOW depth of necrosis (fulguration)
= intermittent wave from with relatively high voltage
Describe cutting setting
Heat tissue quickly
Cell water is converted to steam causing the cell to “explode”
Heat is dissipated in the steam with MINIMAL LATERAL TISSUE DAMAGE, but poor thermal coagulation
Unmodulated waveform with relatively low voltage
What is current diversion?
Current follow the path of least resistance, and thus passes through unintentional pathways
IE: Laparoscopic instrument near trocar burns bowel
What is narrow circuit return?
If current is allowed to pass through (suture) LIGATED TISSUE this will INCREASE the local current density in a logarithmic fashion and unintended excessive heating can occur
IE: applying monopolar instrument to the end of a structure that has been ligated, such as an appendiceal stump
Excessive heating may occur at the ligature, resulting in delayed perforation or appendiceal stump blowout
What is direct coupling?
Second instrument IS touching tissue
can occur if the active electrode comes into contact with other instruments, cannulas or the laparoscope
IE: If an active electrode comes in contact with a grasper holding bowel, then a thermal injury is likely
What is capacitive coupling?
Second instrument is NOT touching tissue
Transfer of current to passive electrode which will store energy (i.e. metal port or the camera)
*There must be two conductors separated by an insulator for this to occur
Charge of the capacitor transferred to adjacent tissue may result in a burn
IE: L hook contacting tip of a grasper which is NOT in contact with tissue, grasper stores energy > grasper will touch tissue and cause inadvertent tissue injury
What is another name for a passive electrode that can store a charge?
Capacitor
Describe Bipolar Current
Tissue to be treated is placed directly between two electrodes, so that current flows only through the tissue which is contiguous between both electrodes (eliminating the need for dispersive electrodes (bovie pads) and the hazards of straight current
Describe the difference in current flow between bipolar and monopolar?
Bipolar- current flow is through a much smaller volume of tissue, unlike the high resistance circuit present with monopolar
**Decrease the output of the generator when compared to monopolar
Up to what vessel diameter can a vessel sealing device be used, such as the Ligasure?
Vessels up to 7 mm in diameter
Describe how a vessel sealing device works
Instrument w/ computer to control energy delivery and tissue heating by measuring the IMPEDANCE of grasped tissue or through Nanotechnology jaw sensors
Controlled heating/pressure > denaturation of collagen > creation of a permanent seal
What hazards are associated with bipolar sealing devices?
Inadvertent lateral thermal spread
Inadvertent cutting of patent vessel before adequate sealing
Improper device function if metal is contained within the jaws (staples, etc)
Which type of dissector relies on mechanical energy?
Ultrasonic dissection
Tissue heating is generated by converting electrical energy into high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations (uses a piezoelectric transducer)
How does a harmonic scalpel work?
Vibrating jaw or blade and a passive jaw (which acts as a backstop to stop tissue against the blade)
How fast does the transducer vibrate on the ultrasound coagulation shears?
50,000 Hertz (50,000 times per second)
Excursion of 25-100 microns depending on the power setting
Does low power on the harmonic cause more hemostasis or cutting?
Hemostasis
Does high power on the harmonic cause more hemostasis or cutting?
Cutting
If the laparoscopic view of the operative field is reduced in size, thus compromising proper exposure of the operative field, which of the following should be immediately checked?
Check insufflator display
All of the following are pre-operative checks except?
A. Check that a spare CO2 tank is in the OR
B. Check the availability of ancillary equipment
C. Assure all power sources are connected and appropriate units were switched “on”
D. Check for adequate muscle relaxation
D. this is an intra operative check
During monopolar electrosurgery, the method of heating tissue quickly, converting cell water to steam and causing the cell to explode, is descriptive of which of the following
A. Cutting mode
B. Coagulation mode
C. Blend option
A. Cutting Mode
The use of all plastic or all metal trocars can avoid which problem during electrosurgery
A. Unintended direct coupling
B. Insulation failure
C. Capacitive coupling
C. Capacitative Coupling
When using the ultrasonic shears, the entire portion of the active blade is exposed. In order to avoid inadvertent delivery of energy to tissue in contact with the bottom portion of the active blade, one should do which of the following?
A. Be aware of the contact points the blade is engaging
B. Grab the target tissue and elevate it
C. Keep the active blade upwards, in view of the surgeon
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
What are the ideal ergonomics of the surgeon?
Arm should be 30 degrees or less from trunk
Elbow should bend 60-120 degrees with wrist slightly pronated
Where should the surgeon stand in regards to the expected operating feild?
Opposite side
Define Class 1 ASA
no organic, physiologic, biochemical, or psychiatric disturbance
Define Class 2 ASA
Mild to moderate systemic disease, due either to surgical condition or to a concomitant disease
Define Class 3 ASA
Severe systemic disease that limits the patient’s activity and may or may not be related to the reason for surgery
Define Class 4 ASA
Severe systemic disturbances that markedly limit the patient, and are life-threatening with or without surgery
Define Class 5 ASA
Moribund patient who has a little change for survival but is submitted to surgery as a last resort (resuscitative effort)
What ASA classes are appropriate for laparoscopic surgery?
Classes 1-3
What are absolute contraindications to laparoscopy? (4)
- Inability to tolerate laparotomy
- Hypovolemic shock
- Lack of proper surgeon training and/or experience
- Lack of appropriate institutional support
What are the RELATIVE contraindications to laparoscopy? (5)
- Inability to tolerate general anesthesia
- Long-standing peritonitis
- Large abdominal or pelvic mass
- Massive incarcerated ventral and inguinal hernias
- Severe cardiopulmonary disease
Select the risk classification that corresponds to ASA Class 3:
A. Mild-to-moderate systemic disease, due to either surgical condition to a concomitant disease
B. Severe systemic disease that limits the patient’s activity and may or may not be related to the reason for surgery
C. No organic, physiologic, biochemical or psychiatric disturbance
D. Moribound patient who has little chance of survival but is submitted to surgery as last resort
Severe systemic disturbance that markedly limit the patient, and are life-threatening with or without surgery
B. Severe systemic disease that limits the patient’s activity and may or may not be related to the reason for surgery
The initial consultation should include which of the following:
A. Types of trocars to be used
B. Details to the physiology of pneumoperitoneum
C. Possibility of conversion to open surgery
D. Type of insufflation gas to be used during the procedure
C. Possibility of conversion to open surgery
Which of the following is a relative contraindication?
A. Uncorrectable hypovolemic shock
B. Previous abdominal surgery
C. Inability of the patient to tolerate laparotomy
D. Lack of appropriate facilities to provide peri-procedural care
B. Previous Abdominal Surgery