Dataset Information

Heat-Related Complications from Radiofrequency and Electrocautery Devices Used in Arthroscopic Surgery: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To investigate the occurrence of heat-related complications from radiofrequency and electrocautery devices in patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery.

Methods

A systematic review was performed using the PubMed/Medline, Embase, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and Cochrane databases, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. All studies reporting complications after arthroscopy using electrosurgery devices were included. Only English- and Dutch-language articles were included. Basic science/nonclinical studies/human cadaveric studies and animal studies were excluded. Article selection was performed by 2 separate reviewers. Interobserver agreement of the selection procedure was determined by Cohen's kappa. All included articles were critically appraised using an adapted version of the ROBINS-I tool.

Results

Twenty-five studies were included in this systematic review. A total of 309 cases of heat-related complications were identified. Chondrolysis was present in 45 cases and dermal burns in 15 cases. Axillary nerve injuries were reported in 197 cases of arthroscopic adhesive capsulitis release. However, it was unclear whether these injuries were directly related to the overheating of the arthroscopic fluid. No one specific risk factor for thermal complications was identified, but related factors included the leakage of the arthroscopy fluid, use of a thermal device continuously for a long period of time, proximity of the thermal device to the tissue, intra-articular local anesthetic injection or the use of intra-articular pain pumps, and certain surgical procedures, such as thermal capsulorrhaphy, capsular release, and synovectomy.

Conclusions

The most common heat-related complications in arthroscopy are dermal burns and chondrolysis. Risk factors include leakage of arthroscopy fluid, use of a thermal device, intra-articular anesthetics/pain pumps, and performing specific surgical procedures.

Level of evidence

Systematic review of level III-IV studies.

SUBMITTER: van Eck CF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8129439 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Background and aimProphylactic administration of antibiotics within 24 hours of surgery is recommended to reduce the risk of infection. We conducted a prospective study to compare the efficacy of single administration of antibiotics with a historical control of continuous administration of antibiotics for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of malignant liver tumors.MethodsBetween February 1, 1999 and November 30, 2010, a total of 6,763 RFA treatments were performed in 2,355 patients, using a protocol with continuous administration of prophylactic antibiotics. On December 1, 2010, we began using a revised protocol with a single administration of prophylactic antibiotics, while continuing to use the old continuous administration protocol for patients who declined the new protocol. Interim analysis was performed to assess the safety of the single administration protocol. Thereafter, from April 1, 2012, all patients were treated using the new protocol. Risk factors for infectious complications of RFA were assessed using logistic regression.ResultsFrom December 2010 to March 2012, 766 RFA treatments were performed in 663 patients using the new antibiotic protocol. Infectious complications were observed following 4 of these treatments (0.52%). As the upper limit of the confidence interval (CI) resulting from a one-sided binomial test was exactly the prespecified limit of 1.0%, from April 2012 onwards, we treated all patients using the new protocol with single administration of prophylactic antibiotics. A total of 3,547 RFA treatments were performed using the single administration protocol. Univariable logistic regression indicated that prior transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and maximal tumor diameter were significant risk factors for infectious complications (P = 0.04 and P < 0.001, respectively). Multivariable analysis indicated that the adjusted hazard ratio of single vs. continuous administration of antibiotics was 1.20 (95% CI: 0.53-2.75; P = 0.66).ConclusionsThe rate of infectious complications related to RFA was acceptably low. Single administration of prophylactic antibiotics did not significantly increase the rate of infectious complications related to RFA, compared with a more intensive antibiotic protocol.