ABSTRACT
The principle of hydrodissection is the use of a stream of water to expand and delineate surgical planes. Hydrodissection was originally described for gynecologic pelvic procedures (1-3), and performed using a suction-irrigation probe (5-mm diameter) by injecting normal saline at 300 mmHg into the subperitoneal space to enter the space of Retzius (2). Hydrodissection was also used to develop tissue planes in the avascular pelvic area during laparoscopic hysterectomy (3). The pressures used were in the range of 200 to 800 mmHg (1). Another indication for hydrodissection was laparoscopic cholecystectomy by injecting 50 mL of saline with a cyst aspiration needle between liver and gallbladder (4). This technique resulted in less bleeding, fewer incidence of gallbladder perforation, and faster dissection.
