THE USE OF THE PLASMAJET SYSTEM IN CHEST SURGERY
The multipurpose use of plasma jet flow is possible thanks to the universal applicability of the plasma jet system which can coagulate, dissect and vaporize biological tissue. The plasma jet system (PJS) was put to work in 50 lung and thoracic wall operations. As many as 22 of these were open, and 28 - videothoracoscopic. 10 mm - 12. 5 mm - 0.8, and 5 mm - 0.5 plasmotrons adapted for open surgery and endoscopic intervension were used. The immediate results of the open surgery with damage to the lung parenchyma were either good or satisfactory, which is demonstrative of the system,s ability to insure enduring aerohemostasis. All the VTS operations performed in response to spontaneous pneumothorax on patients with bullous emphysema led to full recovery. All the VTS attepts nto achieve plasmatic sanations of non-specific pleural empyema resulted in considerable, if not full, re-expansion of the affected lungs. The introduced methods of the VTS sanation of pleural empyema often make it possible to manage without big and highly traumatic surgery. The results of the PJS-assisted lung operations pointed to the high effectiveness of the plasma jet system in efforts to seal off lung parenchyma with the help of enduring aerohemostasis, vaporize defective tissue and dissect, without loss of blood, lung parenchyma, pleural adhesions, fibrous capsulae, etc. The plasma jet flow provides for noticeable bacteriocidal effect.