Does Variable Clamping Pressure Endanger Urologic Prosthetic Tubing?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of variable rubber-shod hemostat (RSH) clamp pressures on urologic prosthesis tubing (UPT) integrity. METHODS: UPT segments were placed into four groups: control, RSH one-click, RSH three-click, or bare hemostat one-click. All experimental groups were clamped for 60 seconds at the point of intervention. Linear force was applied to the tubing until the UPT separated into 2 pieces. Force at the time of failure (FF), tear location, and incidence of leakage before tearing were recorded. Scanning electron microscope images were evaluated for UPT damage from each intervention. RESULTS: The protocol was completed 10 times per group (40 total). Median FF was 99.4 N (79.9-106.5), 104.8 N (78.1-111.0), 97.2 N (74.6-106.5), and 98.1 N (87.9-107.4) for control, RSH one-click, RSH three-click, and bare hemostat one-click, respectively (P = .34). Tear location appeared random for all groups other than the bare hemostat one-click group, which tore at the point of intervention in 6 of 10 (60%) experiments (P = .000082). Only the bare hemostat one-click intervention caused leaking before a complete tear in 2 of 10 (20%) experiments. On scanning electron microscope imaging, only the bare hemostat damaged the surface of the UPT. CONCLUSION: RSH clamp pressures did not significantly compromise the durability of UPT; however, bare hemostats cause surface damage with a loss of material integrity.

Duke Scholars

Author Andrew Charles Peterson Urology

Author Logan Grimaud  

Author Aaron Claude Lentz Urology

Author Jeremy Kurnot