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A Single-Handed Thompson Resectoscope
THE JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
Vol. gz., No. 2 August 1964 Copyright © 1964 by The Williams & Wilkins Co. Printed in U.S.A.
A SINGLE-HANDED THOMPSON RESECTOSCOPE GORDON L. MATHES To adequately resect the apical portion of the prostate gland, transrectal elevation is often essential. In the past this has been performed by an assistant, since both hands were necessary to operate the Thompson resectoscope. Several urologists have previously described one-handed modifications of the Thompson resectoscope, the most recent being Dr. John Swinney of Great Britain. 1 The author claims no originality for the con1bination of ideas and modifications described here. Our first modification included the Iglesias steel spring (fig. 1) to automatically retract the bladder carrier, a 3-finger grip handle and a steel ring for the thumb. The O'Conor rubber sheet is used to permit sterile rectal elevation by the surgeon. While this modification was very effective for resection of the floor of the prostate gland, it was too awkward for resection of anterior tissue. The second modification (fig. 2) eliminates the steel spring and the lower two rings from the grip handle. For the past year, this instrument has been used for complete prostatic resections. It permits single-handed operation of the Thompson resectoscope and allows the surgeon to elevate the prostate transrectally to estimate tissue remaining for resection and to locate the veruAccepted for publication February 7, 1964. 1 Swinney, J.: Modified Thompson resectoscope. Brit. J. Urol., 26: 172, 1954.
montanum and the urethral sphincter. The handle and thumb rings are easily removable with a small screwdriver, restoring the instrument to its original design.
FIG. 1
The modifications described here were made by Richards Manufacturing Co., 1420 Brooks Road, Memphis, Tennessee. Baptist Medical Bldg., Ml11iphis, Tennessee
161
162
MATHES
FIG. 2
Vol. gz., No. 2 August 1964 Copyright © 1964 by The Williams & Wilkins Co. Printed in U.S.A.
A SINGLE-HANDED THOMPSON RESECTOSCOPE GORDON L. MATHES To adequately resect the apical portion of the prostate gland, transrectal elevation is often essential. In the past this has been performed by an assistant, since both hands were necessary to operate the Thompson resectoscope. Several urologists have previously described one-handed modifications of the Thompson resectoscope, the most recent being Dr. John Swinney of Great Britain. 1 The author claims no originality for the con1bination of ideas and modifications described here. Our first modification included the Iglesias steel spring (fig. 1) to automatically retract the bladder carrier, a 3-finger grip handle and a steel ring for the thumb. The O'Conor rubber sheet is used to permit sterile rectal elevation by the surgeon. While this modification was very effective for resection of the floor of the prostate gland, it was too awkward for resection of anterior tissue. The second modification (fig. 2) eliminates the steel spring and the lower two rings from the grip handle. For the past year, this instrument has been used for complete prostatic resections. It permits single-handed operation of the Thompson resectoscope and allows the surgeon to elevate the prostate transrectally to estimate tissue remaining for resection and to locate the veruAccepted for publication February 7, 1964. 1 Swinney, J.: Modified Thompson resectoscope. Brit. J. Urol., 26: 172, 1954.
montanum and the urethral sphincter. The handle and thumb rings are easily removable with a small screwdriver, restoring the instrument to its original design.
FIG. 1
The modifications described here were made by Richards Manufacturing Co., 1420 Brooks Road, Memphis, Tennessee. Baptist Medical Bldg., Ml11iphis, Tennessee
161
162
MATHES
FIG. 2