Efficacy of the Different Types of Reciprocating Cannulas: A Comparative Clinical and Surgical Research Study

Efficacy of the Different Types of Reciprocating Cannulas: A Comparative Clinical and Surgical Research Study

Lipoplasty has been evolving toward safer techniques and better results. The author presents a comparative study of pneumatic-assisted liposculpture with Microaire (Charlottesville, VA) and the electrical-assisted Power Cannula and Becker-Rojas unit (Wells Johnson, Tucson, AZ).

Introduction

Since the first Lipoaspiration equipment and through to modern techniques of liposculpture assistance with internal ultrasound, with or without aspiration, or the pneumatic or electronic reciprocatting cannula, lipoplasty has evolved toward providing patients with safer techniques and better results.

Materials and Methods

One-hundred and fifty female patients underwent power-assisted reciprocating cannula liposuction from April, 1999, to November,1999. Half the patients underwent liposculpture with the pneumatic machine and the other half with the electric machines. The pneumatic equipment (Microaire; Charlottesville,VA) consist of a metal cannula connected to an aspiration system. The cannula is connected to a “pad” that has a reciprocating motor, using pressurized nitrogen between 40 and 129 psi,which moves the cannula forward and back a distance of 2 mm and reciprocating 4000 times per minute. The handpiece is light (130 g.)

The low-frequency electric reciprocating engines (Power Cannula and Becker Rojas; Wells Johnson, Tucson, AZ) generate a forward and back movement of 3mm with reciprocations adjustable from 3500 to 7500 cycles per minute.

Two sets were analyzed in the comparative study; the unit usability index ( UUI; Table 1) for the relationship of the physician and the equipment, and the patient satisfaction index (PASI; Table 2) for analizing patients satisfaction with the equipment and results. To make a fair comparison of the equipment, the variables were analyzed using a result of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) as the score, with a weighted approach: a value of 4 was twicw as important as a value of 2. Score and weight were then multiplied together to attain the total.

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