BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - All hand-assist devices (HAD) are not created equal. In this study, the LapDisc (Ethicon EndoSurgery, Inc.) and the GelPort (Applied Medical) were tested for surgeon pain and hand blood flow over two hours at an insufflation pressure of 15 mmHg in an in vitro model. Both devices were found to result in some degree of surgeon discomfort and a reduction in hand blood flow in the test model. However, the pain scores were significantly greater for the GelPort than the LapDisc, and the LapDisc caused a small initial increase in hand blood flow and thereafter a decrease in blood flow. In fact, three study participants voluntarily removed their hand due to pain from the GelPort during this experiment. The GelPort caused significantly more reduction in hand blood flow compared to the LapDisc. Despite the ergonomic problems with the HAD, it is still an extremely useful laparoscopic device. While these study results do not negate the use of this device in clinical practice, additional work is necessary to improve the design and ease of use of these instruments.

Urol 66: 912-916, 2005