Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator Makes it Easier for Neurosurgeons. What About Pathologists?

Objective: In recent years, the cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator has become an indispensable surgical tool for many neurosurgeons. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between the use of the cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator and the volume of the material obtained for pathological studies.
Methods: The study was conducted with data from 80 consecutive patients undergoing surgical removal of a brain tumor between 2015 and 2019. Clinical records were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperative and postoperative tumor volume measurements were performed on magnetic resonance images using the Aquarius Intuition Client Viewer program available on our picture archiving and communication system. Excised tumor volumes were calculated. The effect of using the cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator on the amount of excised tissue, histopathological diagnosis, and excision time of the material sent to our pathology department for histopathological examination was calculated.
Results: Mean age was 52.9 years. Preoperative tumor volumes and resected tumor volumes were significantly higher in group 1 (p=0.026; 0.03 respectively). Operation time spent per excised tumor volume was significantly shorter in group 1 (p=0.005). The amount of material sent to pathology was higher in group 2 (p=0.026). There were no complications related to the resection using the cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator and it was found to be useful for tumor removal.
Conclusion: The cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator is a highly helpful tool for surgical intervention. This method based on aspiration may have some negative effects on pathological specimens if cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator aspirate material not transferred to the pathology department.