Alternative design for radiologic guidance in video thoracoscopic surgery

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. Easy dislodgment and a pneumothorax rate of up to 50% have been reported with the use of mammographic hookwires for radiologic guidance in thoracoscopic surgery. An alternative design is described and preliminary in vitro results are reported. METHODS. The new design is based on the T-fastener used in percutaneous gastrostomies and can be deposited with a 20-Fr guidance needle. In vitro measurements of the anchoring capability of this design were compared with the anchoring capability of the Hawkin’s III (Meditech/Boston Scientific, Watertown, MA) mammographic hook wire system. RESULTS. Anchoring capabilities of the alternative anchoring design and the Hawkin's III mammographic hook wire localization system are comparable. Complete dislodgement of both anchors occurs at approximately 350 gm. CONCLUSIONS. Preliminary in vitro investigation demonstrated similar anchoring capabilities of the new design and mammographic hook wires. Potential advantages of this suture-based localization device over hook wires are discussed.