Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the advantages, disadvantages, safety and surgical applicability of the Pulsed Electron Avalanche Knife (PEAK–fc), a new electrosurgical knife for "cold" and traction–free cutting, in anterior segment surgery.
Methods: :
A prospective, consecutive trial of 18 eyes in 18 patients undergoing intraocular surgery. The following specific maneuvers were performed with PEAK–fc: anterior and posterior capsulotomy, iris synechiolysis, dissection of anterior capsule opacification, ablation of fibrotic scar tissue and resection of an iris tumor.
Results: :
Anterior and posterior capsulotomies were successfully performed in all cases. Edges of capsulotomies were sharp showing only minor alteration of the adjacent tissue. Posterior iris synechiae could be released and anterior capsule opacification was dissected without complications. Fibrotic scar tissue in a prolonged anterior PVR was ablated without induction of iris damage. An iris tumor was excised inducing minor hemorrhages which could be stopped immediately by using the coagulation mode of PEAK–fc.
Conclusions: :
PEAK–fc was successfully used for a variety of surgical maneuvers commonly encountered in patients undergoing anterior segment surgery. It appeares to be a promising cutting device for intraocular surgery, allowing a higher level of microsurgical precision in intraocular surgery. Using different waveform parameters, PEAK–fc allows for "cold" cutting and/or "hot" coagulation, thus improving the precision, safety and ergonomics of intraocular surgery.
Keywords: anterior segment