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The High-Speed Air-Turbine Drill

RODMAN E. TABER, MD; ERNEST HERSHEY, MD; CONRAD R. LAM, MD; THOMAS GAHAGAN, MD

AMA Arch Surg. 1966;92(2):305-307.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

THE SURGEON faced with the operative management of a calcified aortic valve composed of fused commissures and rigid cusps, usually chooses between prosthetic substitution and some form of debridement. With but few exceptions, debridement as usually practiced with rongeurs and curettes has proven less than satisfactory. We have found that an air-turbine drill is a valuable adjunct in debridement operations and is useful as well to prepare the calcified annulus for a prosthetic valve. The instrument has been used with 75 patients undergoing aortic valve surgery.

Materials and Methods

The Drill.

—The high-speed, air-turbine drill was originally developed for use in the field of oral surgery.* The drill contains a small air turbine which is powered by compressed air delivered through a rubber tube at a pressure of 100 lb per square inch. The instrument is controlled by a foot pedal. The compressed air is passed through a millipore filter . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
DETROIT

From the Division of Thoracic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit. Dr. Hershey's present address is David Whitney Bldg, Detroit.

Footnotes
Submitted for publication Nov 6, 1965.

Read before the meeting of the International Cardiovascular Society, Philadelphia, Sept 15-18, 1965.

Reprint requests to 2799 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, Mich 48202 (Dr. Taber).

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