Maintaining a clear vision during long-lasting thoracoscopic procedures

Abstract

Performing complex and long-lasting thoracoscopic procedures presupposes that a perfectly clear vision is maintained. We have evaluated the use of a lens cleaner system (EndoClear™) which can be released inside the chest cavity, thus avoiding the need for removing the scope. Forty-three patients underwent a totally endoscopic major pulmonary resection. The study group consisted of 13 patients whose surgery was performed using the lens cleaner (group Lens Cleaner, LC). The control group (group C) consisted of 30 patients operated without the assistance of EndoClear™. Both groups were similar in terms of age, gender, type and duration of surgery. In group LC, the thoracoscope was cleaned using EndoClear™ a mean of 8.6±2.5 times per operation and a mean of 1.3±1.3 times outside the cavity (P<0.001). In group C, the thoracoscope had to be removed for cleaning a mean 9.5±3.9 times significantly more often than in the group LC (P<0.001). The EndoClear™ lens cleaning system is an efficient method for cleaning the scope inside the chest cavity. © 2010 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.