The conductivity of ERCP guide wires during direct contact with current source

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During wire-guided ampullectomy, the snare often directly contacts the guidewire ([Fig. 1]) [1] [2] [3] [4]. It is therefore important to know how much current the guide wire conducts. No published study in the English literature addresses this issue.

Fig. 1 Typical snare position for ampullectomy.

We tested the conductance of four endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) guide wires: Jagwire 0.035, Jagwire 0.025, Hydra Jagwire 0.035 (all Microvasive Inc., Natick, Massachusetts, USA), and Zebra wire 0.035 (Olympus, Melville, New York, USA). Each wire was grounded. The energy source was an endoscopic current generator programmed to typical ampullectomy settings. A polypectomy snare was used to transmit the energy ([Fig. 2]).

Fig. 2 Energy delivery.

A voltmeter was attached to the polypectomy snare to determine delivered voltage (274 V). The snare was then tightened around the guide wire 4 cm proximal to the tip of the wire. An alligator clamp connected to a voltmeter was fastened 2 cm from the tip of the wire. The snare was energized in the standard fashion for 8 s with voltage recorded every 2 s. This process was repeated with the clamp at 1 cm and at 3 cm from the wire tip. The snare was then moved 8 cm from the guide-wire tip and re-tightened. Voltage was recorded at 2, 4, and 6 cm from the wire tip. The main outcome measure was voltage, which reflects current, at prespecified sites along each guide wire.

None of the guide wires conducted electricity despite being in direct contact with the snare transmitting 274 V. A low voltage was detectable, but was constant along the length of each wire and stable over the period of energy delivery (see [Tables 1] and [2]). These voltages reflect a field current which produces no appreciable heat and thus poses no risk to the patient. The differences noted in the voltages between some wires probably reflect a difference in their dielectric constants.

Table 1 Guide-wire voltage with snare at 4 cm

Time, s	Jag 0.035	Jag 0.025	Hydraglide	Olympus
0	18	18.4	18.4	18.4
2	18	18.4	18.4	18.4
4	18	18.4	18.4	18.4
6	18	18.4	18.4	18.4
8	18	18.4	18.4	18.4

Table 2 Guide-wire voltage with snare at 8 cm

Time, s	Jag 0.035	Jag 0.025	Hydraglide	Olympus
0	18.4	18.4	28.8	18.8
2	18.4	18.4	28.8	18.8
4	18.4	18.4	28.8	18.8
6	18.4	18.4	28.8	18.8
8	184.	18.4	28.8	18.8

This ex vivo study may not perfectly reflect in vivo characteristics and assumes an undamaged guide wire.

Disclaimer

The opinions and assertions contained herein are the sole views of the authors and should not be construed as official or as representing the views of the US Navy, Department of Defense, or Department of Veterans Affairs.

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AR_2AJ

References

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