Table 1.
Scoring Criteria and Definitions
| Definition | |
|---|---|
| Score | Charring/carbonization |
| 1 | No charring/carbonization |
| 2 | Slight charring/carbonization that does not interfere with sealing/transection |
| 3 | Slight charring/carbonization on upper or lower jaw requiring cleaning |
| 4 | Moderate charring/carbonization on one or both jaws requiring cleaning |
| 5 | Significant charring/carbonization on both jaws requiring cleaning |
| Score | Tissue sticking |
| 1 | No tissue sticking |
| 2 | Slight sticking requiring activation of the device to release tissue |
| 3 | Tissue sticking requiring counter tension to gently remove tissue |
| 4 | Tissue sticking requiring counter tension and extensive force to remove tissue |
| 5 | Tissue sticking such that tissue is damaged or torn during the removal process |
| Score | Seal quality |
| 1 | Excellent, no bleeding |
| 2 | Blood oozing at tissue site |
| 3 | Blood oozing at tissue site at 5 seconds |
| 4 | Moderate bleeding requiring intervention |
| 5 | Bleeding without evidence of tissue sealing |
| Score | Transection quality |
| 1 | Complete tissue transection from proximal to distal end of the jaw |
| 2 | Incomplete tissue transection cut proximally, not distally |
| 3 | Incomplete tissue transection cut distally, not proximally |
| 4 | Incomplete tissue transection with bleeding |
| 5 | No tissue transection occurred |