Antifogging effects of a socket-type device with the superhydrophilic, titanium dioxide-coated glass for the laparoscope.

BACKGROUND

Lens fogging during laparoscopic surgery extensively deteriorates operative field visibility and may provoke serious complications.

METHODS

A simulation model study was conducted using a conventional laparoscope, a conventional laparoscope plus heating (100 degrees C, 10 s), a conventional laparoscope plus surfactant, and a conventional laparoscope plus both a titanium dioxide (TiO2)-coated glass (with > or = 15 h of preoperative ultraviolet irradiation) and a water supply. For each, the time from laparoscope insertion into the peritoneal cavity to fogging-induced interruption of surgery was measured.

RESULTS

The TiO2-coated glass had unique verified properties of exerting antifogging effects on the oil film after 15 or more hours of previous ultraviolet irradiation, and of inversely accelerating fogging after less than 15 h of previous ultraviolet irradiation. The clinical study showed later fogging with the TiO2-coated glass model, which successfully completed surgery without retraction of the laparoscope from the peritoneal cavity, as compared with the other models.

CONCLUSION

An antifogging device using superhydrophilic TiO2-coated glass was very effective in preventing fogging during laparoscopic surgery.