Temperature monitoring for high frequency welding of soft biological tissues: a prospective study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of temperature changes and accurately determining the moment of electrode removal during open heart operations is not well recognized. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the temperature fields distribution in the biological tissues affected by electrosurgery upon use of an infrared thermograph. METHODS: The dynamics of temperature distribution in the tissue was registered by the thermal imaging camera FLIR i7. Measurement of the temperature between electrode couples was carried out for two operation modes: coagulation (100% power) and coagulation (50% power). RESULTS: The most important result of the applied method of temperature monitoring is a determination of the moment for electrodes removal that ensures the avoidance of carbonization of the cardiac tissues during their ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature monitoring for connection of soft live biological tissues by welding allows the power to be fed in the amount sufficient for a formation of continuous ablation of the myocardium tissue.