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microsurgery

Surgery performed on very small structures like the blood vessels and the nerves utilizing specialized equipment is called microsurgery.

Microsurgical procedures are performed using techniques that have been used since the early part of the twentieth century.

Some of the techniques used include blood vessel repair and organ transplantation.

Numerous other surgical specialties also make use of the techniques used in microsurgery.

Case in point: otolaryngologists perform microsurgery when doing work on the inner ear or the delicate and small structures of the vocal cord.

Plastic surgeons also employ microsurgical techniques during reconstruction of damaged or disfigured tissues, muscles, or skin or when transplanting tissues from the patient’s body.

Equipment

Microscope

Operating microscopes used in microsurgery may vary depending on their use.

However, they have and share a few standard features.

Microscopes can be floor or ceiling mounted and comes with a movable arm.

The movable arm will ensure manipulation of the microscope’s position is possible and effortless.

Operating microscopes also come with a high intensity light source.

It also comes equipped with a set of lenses designed to make viewing the surgical site possible and convenient.

The rest of the surgical team will get a visual of the operating field through a video camera.

Typically, the magnification required for microsurgery is five to forty times (5–40x) magnification.

Higher magnifications however are required by surgeons when performing microsurgical repair.

Lower magnifications are ideal when identifying and exposing structures.

Instruments

Instruments that are used in microsurgery have been designed to make manipulation of delicate structures (read: barely visible to the naked eye) possible.

The instruments are also equipped with handles that are large enough so the users can hold them comfortably and securely.

Some of the instruments used in microsurgery include:

  • Vessel dilators
  • Scissors
  • Forceps
  • Vascular clamps
  • Irrigators
  • Needle holders
  • Clamp applicators

Suture Materials

Suturing or stitching in microsurgery is done using specialized needles and threads.

The diameter or gauge of the suture threads will vary and will depend on the procedure performed.

It will also depend on the tissue that will be sutured.

Suture threads can be synthetic (made of polyester, nylon, wire, and other man-made materials) or natural (made of silk, linen, gut, and other materials).

It can also be absorbable (will break down after a specific period) or non-absorbable (will retain its strength for an indefinite period).

Needles used in suturing also comes in a variety of sizes, point types, and shapes.

Akin to the suture thread, the needle type used in microsurgery will also depend on the tissue that needs suturing as well as the procedure performed.

In essence, numerous reconstructive procedures that are difficult to carry out when done conventionally are made possible through microsurgery.

Microsurgery Facts To Keep In Mind Of

Some of the most common microsurgical procedures performed are:

Free-tissue transfers

Also known as free flaps, free-tissue transfers are often the option when reconstructing tissues that have been damaged and cannot be treated through skin grafts.

Removed tissues due to treatment or cancer or tissues that have been constricted after a burn can benefit from free-tissue transfers.

Tissues that can be transferred through microsurgical techniques include skin, bone, muscle, intestine, and fat.

Replantation

Replantation is considered an emergency surgery and is carried out to reattach an amputated body part (i.e. finger, arm, or foot).

Replantation is a procedure that adheres to a series of time and energy intensive steps during the reattachment of the structures.

For instance, when a bone is cut, it must be shortened slightly so that the blood vessels and the nerves can be reattached without any tension.

Transplantation

In some cases, a body part that has been amputated can no longer be reattached, or the tissue has become deformed secondary to injury or congenital defect.

In similar scenarios, transplantation is often the recommended option.

Discover more about microsurgery at www.bjios.sg.

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In essence, microsurgery is surgery performed on very small structures

In essence, microsurgery is surgery performed on very small structures (i.e. nerves and the blood vessels).

Specialized instruments under a microscope are also used for the procedure.

Microsurgery makes use of techniques like blood vessel repair and organ transplantation.

The aforementioned techniques have been used since the twentieth century’s early part.

Microsurgery techniques have also been utilized by several surgical specialties.

For instance:

Ophthalmologists (eye doctors)

Performs microsurgery to remove cataracts, carry out corneal transplants, and treat glaucoma and other eye conditions.

Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors)

Uses microsurgeries when working on the small and delicate structures of the inner ear or when carrying out work on the vocal chords.

Gynecologists and urologists

Reverses tubal ligations and vasectomies using microsurgery principles.

Plastic surgeons

Reconstructs damaged or disfigured skin, tissues, and muscles using microsurgical techniques.

Other specialties

Performs microsurgery to replant or reattach amputated body parts to replace a new one (for instance, a lost or damaged thumb is replaced with a great toe).

Equipment Used in Microsurgery

The key functions of microsurgical equipment include magnifying the operating field and providing instrumentation

The key functions of microsurgical equipment include magnifying the operating field and providing instrumentation.

The equipment used are designed to make precise maneuvering feasible and to make operating on barely visible structures possible.

Essential instruments used in microsurgery include microsurgical instruments, micro suture materials, and the microscope.

Microscope

Microscope that is used in microsurgery is either mounted on the ceiling or on the floor.

It also comes designed with a moveable arm so manipulating its position becomes relatively easier.

A set of lenses and a high-intensity light source are used to view the surgical site.

A video camera is used so other members of the surgical team can view the surgical site on a display screen.

Ideally, a five to forty times (5–40x) magnification is used in microsurgical procedures.

Instruments

Compared to traditional surgical instruments, those used in microsurgery have distinct differences.

Aside from its capability to delicately manipulate barely visible structures, microsurgical instruments also come with handles that are large enough so handling them comfortably and securely is possible.

Instruments often utilized in microsurgery include:

  • Needle holders (for suturing)
  • Forceps
  • Vessel dilators
  • Standard surgical tools
  • Scissors
  • Irrigators

Suture Materials

In microsurgery, suturing or stitching is carried out utilizing needles and threads that are specialized.

The diameter or gauge of the threads can vary in size.

When choosing the apt thread to be used, the procedure that will be performed as well as the tissue that needs to be sutured will be taken into account.

In most cases, threads with 9–0 to 12–0 gauges are used in microsurgery.

Suture threads can also be non-absorbable or absorbable.

They can also be made from natural materials or synthetic ones.

The type used will depend on the procedure as well as the tissue that needs suturing.

Suture needles come in diverse sizes and shapes.

They also have different point types.

Generally, however, the needles often used are less than 0.15 mm in diameter.

Training

Surgeons will have to undergo extensive training and practice before they perform microsurgery.

Know-how on basic anatomy and surgical techniques will also be required.

Surgeons will also be taught how to hold the instruments properly, how to lessen hand tremors, ways to maintain proper posture when performing microsurgical procedures and maintaining visual contact when using the microscope, among other things.

A set of essential techniques have to be mastered by the surgeon as they are often utilized in microsurgery.

These basic techniques include nerve grafting and repair, vessel repair, and vein grafting.

When already very proficient in the basic skills needed for microsurgery, more advanced techniques will be taught, including treating specific conditions.

For more information about microsurgery and if it is the right option for you, check www.bjios.sg right now.

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Essentially, microsurgery is the surgery done on very small structures like blood vessels and nerves.

It makes use of specialized instruments used under a microscope.

Today, techniques used in microsurgery are already utilized by a wide variety of surgical specialties.

For instance:

Urologists

Takes advantage of microsurgical techniques when reversing vasectomies.

Gynecologists

Reverses tubal ligations utilizing microsurgical techniques.

Ophthalmologists (eye doctors)

Carries out microsurgery when removing cataracts, carrying out corneal transplants, and treating eye conditions like glaucoma.

Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors)

Performs microsurgery on the small and delicate structures found in the inner ear or the vocal cords.

Plastic surgeons also employ microsurgical techniques to reconstruct damaged or disfigured tissues, muscles, and skin.

They also use microsurgical techniques when transplanting tissues from different parts of the patient’s body.

Neurosurgeons also perform microsurgery to treat vascular abnormalities in the brain.

It is also used when removing cancerous tumors.

Equipment Used

Microsurgical equipment magnifies the operating field, provides instrumentation, and makes it easy for the surgeon to carry out surgery on structures that are very small and barely visible to the naked eye.

Microsuture materials, microscope, and microsurgical instruments are considered the most essential tools used in the procedure.

Microscope

While microscopes used in the procedure can vary depending on their specific use, they still have common standard features.

Microscope used in microsurgery has a moveable arm so manipulating its position is easier for the surgeon.

It can also be mounted on the ceiling or on the floor.

A high-intensity light source as well as a set of lenses makes it possible for the surgeon to view the surgical site.

A video camera makes it possible for the rest of the surgical team to see the operating field.

Generally, a five to forty times (5–40x) magnification is needed when carrying out microsurgery.

However, lower magnifications are used when exposing and identifying structures.

Higher magnifications are required when performing microsurgical repairs.

Instruments

Generally, microsurgical instruments are able to delicately manipulate structures.

However, they also come equipped with handles that are large enough so they can be handled comfortably and securely.

Some of the most common instruments used in microsurgery include:

  • Forceps
  • Scissors
  • Needle holders
  • Vessel dilators
  • Vascular clamps
  • Irrigators

Suture Materials

Suturing or stitching is carried out utilizing specialized threads and needles.

The diameter or the gauge of the suture thread will vary depending on the tissue that needs suturing and the procedure that will be performed.

In most cases, in microsurgery gauges of 9–0 to 12–0 are used.

On the other hand, suture threads can be absorbable or non-absorbable.

They can also be synthetic or natural.

The suture thread that will be used will also depend on the procedure that will be done as well as the tissue that needs to be sutured.

Essential Techniques

Microsurgical procedures use a set of basic techniques that has to be mastered by the surgeon.

These techniques include nerve repair and grafting, blood vessel repair, and vein grafting.

Blood vessel repair

When two separate vessels are connected to form a continuous channel, the procedure is called vascular anastomosis.

Anastomoses may be end-to-end (between two cut ends) or end-to-side (one cut end to the wall of another blood vessel).

Vein grafting is an alternative procedure to end-to-end anastomosis.

However, the procedure is only carried out when the cut ends of the blood vessels cannot be reattached without creating any tension.

Nerve repair

Anastomosis or neurorrhaphy is the procedure done when two cut ends of a nerve are connected.

Nerve repair may also involve suturing of the epineurium or the perineurium.

Nerve grafting

Neurorrhaphy cannot be carried out when there is a large gap between the cut ends of the nerve as tension might be created.

Nerve tension is avoided as it might interfere with the patient’s post-surgical function.

For more information on microsurgery, give www.bjios.sg a visit now.

 

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