Bipolar vessel sealing: instrument contamination and wear have little effect on seal quality and success in a porcine in vitro model.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to systematically investigate under standardized experimental conditions the effects of instrument contamination and wear on the quality of bipolar vessel sealing (BVS) achieved using a reusable instrument.

Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, and controlled in vitro study and conducted in an academic research environment. Reusable bipolar coagulation forceps (BiClamp® 200 C, ERBE Elektromedizin) were used to apply sealing pressures of 300-1,100 mN/mm(2) to 239 renal arteries from commercially slaughtered female pigs (Swabian-Hall Swine).