Dr. Philip Gan is attending EAES in Amsterdam this week.
Dr. Gan is an invited speaker at the ASMBS Annual Clinical Symposium in Las Vegas, June 2016. The title of the presentation is “LiVac: Liver Vacuum Retraction”.
Dr. Philip Gan is attending EAES in Amsterdam this week.
Dr. Gan is an invited speaker at the ASMBS Annual Clinical Symposium in Las Vegas, June 2016. The title of the presentation is “LiVac: Liver Vacuum Retraction”.
Dr. Philip Gan attended EAES in Amsterdam this week and upon review of the program was pleasantly surprised to find another video session that focused on independent surgeon experience with the LiVac retractor in Germany and Austria.
The study describes the application of the LiVac retractor in over 20 cases, in which the LiVac was used as the sole device for liver retraction across a range of surgical procedures. In all cases the LiVac Retractor System was “easy to apply and provided good exposure of the operative field”.
Surgeon Dr Philip Gan was performing laparoscopic gastric banding surgery in 2009 when he noticed the liver adhered to the diaphragm due to the surface tension associated with the moist surface. It occurred to him that vacuum forces could mimic the surface tension effect.
Any technological advances which reduce the amount of trauma caused by surgical procedures can enhance patient recovery and help to minimise complications. Laparoscopic, or ‘keyhole’ surgery, has allowed many procedures to be performed without the need for major incisions (laparotomy). Although this has proved a major advancement, surgeons are constantly trying to improve their techniques, such as by reducing the number and size of incisions required for a particular operation. Dr Philip Gan is a general surgeon based in Australia, who has made such an advancement through the invention of an innovative piece of technology called the LiVac™ Retractor.
A new surgical accessory — designed by Dr Philip Gan as part of the LiVac Retractor System—will be released in Australia on 26th April, 2016.
A non-compressible connector tool has been developed to reduce the risk of tubing compression when using the LiVac Retractor System.
All retractors for laparoscopic operations on the gallbladder or stomach apply an upward force to the undersurface of the liver or gallbladder,most requiring an additional skin incision. The LiVac laparoscopic liver retractor system (LiVac retractor) comprises a soft silicone ring attached to suction tubing and connected to a regulated source of suction. The suction tubing extends alongside existing ports. When placed between the liver and diaphragm, and suction applied, a vacuum is created within the ring, keeping these in apposition. Following successful proof-of-concept animal testing, a clinical study was conducted to evaluate the performance and safety of the retractor in patients.