Examination of blades used in LASIK by scanning electron microscopy

To evaluate and compare, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the sharpness of the edge of brand new surgical blades and consecutively used surgical blades in laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Twenty-five AccuGlide (Bausch & Lomb, USA) surgical blades were evaluated, divided into...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia 2006-11, Vol.69 (6), p.845-849
Main Authors: Soares, Francisco Seixas, Casanova, Fabio Henrique, Campos, Mauro, Nishiwaki-Dantas, Maria Cristina, Dantas, Paulo Elias Correa
Format: Article
Language:Portuguese
Subjects:
Equipment Reuse - standards
Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ - instrumentation
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Statistics, Nonparametric
Sterilization
Surface Properties
Surgical Instruments
Time Factors
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:To evaluate and compare, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the sharpness of the edge of brand new surgical blades and consecutively used surgical blades in laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Twenty-five AccuGlide (Bausch & Lomb, USA) surgical blades were evaluated, divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (control), non-used surgical blades; Group 2, ten surgical blades used twice (simultaneous bilateral procedure); Group 3, ten surgical blades used four times (two consecutive simultaneous bilateral procedures). Each blade was analyzed by SEM at four random points, two central and two peripheral points, with magnification of 50x, 350x, and 1,000x. Blade body irregularities and organic material were observed on all used surgical blades (Groups 2 and 3), but not on new surgical blades (Group 1). In addition, Group 3 revealed more irregularities in both central (p=0.0094) and peripheral points (p=0.0098) than Group 2, as well as organic material deposition (p=0.0204 and p=0.0909, respectively). Neither metallic material nor irregularities in the cutting edge of the blade were observed in any group. No difference regarding the cutting edge was observed between new and blades reused up to four times, however irregularities and organic material were observed in all reused blades. Reusing blades for LASIK may produce structural changes and its clinical implications need to be evaluated due to the possible relation with interlamellar postoperative complications.
ISSN:0004-2749
1678-2925