VM47 - A Little Help from My Buddy - Use of Flexible Suction Catheter to Enhance Visibility During Robotic Pelvic Surgery

Saturday, June 1, 2024

10:00 AM – 1:30 PM ET, USA

Location: Baltimore Convention Center, Hall BCD

Video Presentation(s)

Frank A. DiSilvio, Jr., MD

Resident
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Peoria, IL, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Author(s)

Ipek Sapci, MD

General Surgery Resident
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Peoria, IL, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Ayo N. Gazal, MD (she/her/hers)

General Surgery Resident
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
University of Illinois College of Medicine - Peoria
Peoria, IL, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
ES

Eleni Stroumpi, n/a

Research fellow
UICOMP
Peoria, Illinois, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
JF

Justin Fischer, MD

Associate Professor
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Peoria, Illinois, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

ST

Steven Tsoraides, MD, MPH

Attending Surgeon
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Springfield Clinic
Peoria, Illinois, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Purpose/Background: Robotic surgery has significantly increased in the field of colorectal surgery over the last 5 years. Inability to maintain a clear surgical field in the event of hemorrhage without losing a robotic trocar to suction or relying heavily on bedside assistant to suction through the assistant port while in the deep pelvis can be challenging given the curvature beyond the sacral promontory. In addition, visualization can often be impaired with smoke and steam accumulating. This leads to increased camera cleaning and increased operative time. Our video suggests the use of a surgeon-controlled suction as a solution to these problems. The video discusses the set up and shows examples of a surgeon controlled intracorporeal suction tool, affectionately named “My Buddy.” Our system allows for the flexibility of surgeon control without the requirement of occupying a robot arm or relying on bedside scrub tech assistant.

Methods/Interventions: In this video 14 French nasogastric tubing is connected with the extracorporeal suction tubing and this enables the surgeon to control the suction during the operation. In addition it enables clamping and unclamping without relying on a bedside assistant.

Results/Outcomes: As portrayed in the video, the use of the suction tool allows for improved smoke evacuation as well as additional suction capabilities. This system allows the ability to use three robotic arms as well as an assistant to continue with the operation while allowing use of the suction device. Overall, it is a cost effective and versatile means to improve visualization during robotic pelvic surgery.

Conclusion/Discussion: The use of surgeon controlled intracorporeal suction, “My Buddy” allows for improved visualization without the requirement of occupying a robotic arm or dependence upon the bedside assistant. The utility of smoke evacuation as well as additional suction capabilities makes it a versatile tool especially in pelvic surgery. Overall this device may help improve console time, decrease instrument exchanges and subsequently decrease operative and anesthetic time for patients.