Endoscopic-assisted microsurgery: microsurgery in the new millennium? A comparative experimental study

Endoscopes are already present in almost all plastic surgery departments. The operating microscope is currently an essential piece of equipment for performing microsurgical anastomoses; however, microsurgery could be conducted using other equipment, including the endoscope. By performing 60 vessel and nerve repairs in rats under the operating microscope and the same number using the endoscope as a visual aid, we investigated the technical and clinical differences between the two instruments. We recorded significantly shorter operative, vascular preparation and anastomotic times in the endoscopically assisted group. Based on the data collected during this study, we conclude that microsurgery is possible with the aid of an endoscope. Using the endoscope may make prolonged microvascular procedures shorter and less physically demanding and may increase the comfort level of both the surgeon and the assistant. (C) 2003 The British Association of Plastics Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.