• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Log in
  • Search
    • Search All SAGES Content
    • Search SAGES Guidelines
    • Search the Video Library
    • Search the Image Library
    • Search the Abstracts Archive
www.sages.org

SAGES

Reimagining surgical care for a healthier world

  • Home
    • Search
    • SAGES Home
    • SAGES Foundation Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Who Is SAGES?
    • Leadership
    • Our Mission
    • Advocacy
    • Committees
      • SAGES Board of Governors
      • Officers and Representatives of the Society
      • Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs
      • Committee Rosters
      • SAGES Past Presidents
  • Meetings
    • SAGES NBT Innovation Weekend
    • SAGES Annual Meeting
      • 2026 Scientific Session Call for Abstracts
      • 2026 Emerging Technology Call for Abstracts
    • CME Claim Form
    • SAGES Past, Present, Future, and Related Meeting Information
    • SAGES Related Meetings & Events Calendar
  • Join SAGES!
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership Types
      • Requirements and Applications for Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Affiliate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Associate Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Candidate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for International Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements for Medical Student Membership
    • Member Spotlight
    • Give the Gift of SAGES Membership
  • Patients
    • Join the SAGES Patient Partner Network (PPN)
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Healthy Sooner – Patient Information for Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Choosing Wisely – An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation
    • All in the Recovery: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
    • Find A SAGES Surgeon
  • Publications
    • Sustainability in Surgical Practice
    • SAGES Stories Podcast
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Patient Information From SAGES
    • TAVAC – Technology and Value Assessments
    • Surgical Endoscopy and Other Journal Information
    • SAGES Manuals
    • MesSAGES – The SAGES Newsletter
    • COVID-19 Archive
    • Troubleshooting Guides
  • Education
    • Wellness Resources – You Are Not Alone
    • Avoid Opiates After Surgery
    • SAGES Subscription Catalog
    • SAGES TV: Home of SAGES Surgical Videos
    • The SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program
    • Masters Program
    • Resident and Fellow Opportunities
      • MIS Fellows Course
      • SAGES Robotics Residents and Fellows Courses
      • SAGES Free Resident Webinar Series
      • Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Course for Fellows
      • Fellows’ Career Development Course
    • SAGES S.M.A.R.T. Enhanced Recovery Program
    • SAGES @ Cine-Med Products
      • SAGES Top 21 Minimally Invasive Procedures Every Practicing Surgeon Should Know
      • SAGES Pearls Step-by-Step
      • SAGES Flexible Endoscopy 101
    • SAGES OR SAFETY Video Activity
  • Opportunities
    • Fellowship Recognition Opportunities
    • SAGES Advanced Flexible Endoscopy Area of Concentrated Training (ACT) SEAL
    • Multi-Society Foregut Fellowship Certification
    • Research Opportunities
    • FLS
    • FES
    • FUSE
    • Jobs Board
    • SAGES Go Global: Global Affairs and Humanitarian Efforts
  • OWLS/FLS
You are here: Home / Abstracts / Thermal Injury Secondary to the Laparoscopic Fiber Optic Cable

Thermal Injury Secondary to the Laparoscopic Fiber Optic Cable

Background: Laparoscopy requires a reliable light source to provide adequate visualization. However, thermal energy is produced as a by product from the optical cable. This study attempts to quantify the degree of thermal damage secondary to the fiber optic light source. Temperature variation at the tip of the optical cable was examined also.

Methods: Using a digital thermometer, temperature measurements were recorded at the tip of the optical cables from five different light sources (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany). Temperature measurements were recorded with new bulbs in the light source and from the tip of the optical cable using varying distances. The tip of the cable was applied to surgical drapes and the time to charring of the drapes was recorded. Subsequently, the tip of the optical cable was applied to the skin of anesthetized pigs and tissue samples were obtained after exposing the tissue to varying amounts of time (5s, 15s, 30s, 60s, and 90s). Sections of the damaged tissue were fixed in 10% formalin and paraffin blocks were prepared. 5mm sections were stained with H & E and microscopically evaluated. Parameters for thermal injury included extent of epidermal, dermal and subcutaneous fat injury and necrosis. The lateral extent and depth of injury were measured. Least squares means and Pearson correlation coefficients were used for data analysis.

Results: The maximum temperature at the tip of the optical cable varied between 119.5 degrees and 268.6 degrees Celcius. The highest temperature reading was at the tip of the cable with a fresh bulb. When surgical drapes were exposed to the tip of the light source, the time to char was 3 to 6 seconds. The degree and volume of injury increased with longer exposure times. Significant injury was also recorded with the optical cable 2 mm from the skin.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the temperature at the tip of the optical light cord can induce extensive damage to soft tissue and surgical drapes. The product of light (heat) density and time can produce immediate superficial tissue necrosis that can extend into the subcutaneous fat through conduction. This degree of injury can occur even when the optical tip is not directly touching the skin. In addition, our study shows the variation in temperature that exists between light sources. Overall, surgeons must respect the potential complications associated with optical technology.


Session: Poster

Program Number: P147

View Poster

502

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

Related


sages_adbutler_leaderboard

Hours & Info

11300 West Olympic Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90064

1-310-437-0544

[email protected]

Monday – Friday
8am to 5pm Pacific Time

Find Us Around the Web!

  • Bluesky
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · SAGES · All Rights Reserved

Important Links

Healthy Sooner: Patient Information

SAGES Guidelines, Statements, & Standards of Practice

SAGES Manuals