Valleylab Force 2 - During Surgery Safety; Metal Object Contact Hazards; Power Setting Safety

During Surgery
Patient and Operating Room Safety
Force 2 User’s Guide 1-7
During Surgery
Contact with Metal Objects
Generator Power Settings
Forceps
Suction Coagulators
Warning
• Contact of the active electrode with any metal will greatly increase current flow
and can result in unintended surgical effect.
• While using electrosurgery, the patient should not be allowed to come into
direct contact with grounded metal objects (e.g., surgical table frame,
instrument table, etc.). If this is not possible during certain procedures (e.g.,
those in which noninsulated head frames are used), use extreme caution to
maximize patient safety:
-Use the lowest power setting that achieves the desired effect.
-Place the patient return electrode as close to the surgical site as possible.
-Place dry gauze between the patient and the grounded object if possible.
-Continually monitor the contact point(s).
Warning
Confirm proper power settings before proceeding with surgery. Use the lowest
power setting possible for the minimum time necessary to achieve the desired
effect.
Never increase the power settings without first checking both the active electrode
and the patient return electrode and their connections. Use the active electrode
or forceps only for the minimum time necessary to achieve the desired surgical
effect in order to minimize the possibility of burns. This is especially true in
pediatric and neonatal patients or in any patient where small structures are
involved.
Caution
If the proper settings are not known, set the electrosurgical generator at a very
low setting and cautiously increase the power until the desired effect is achieved.
Notice
Do not activate the generator until the forceps have made contact with the
patient. Product damage may occur.
Warning
To avoid the possibility of a burn to the surgeon, always place the generator in the
standby mode prior to bending or reshaping the coagulator suction tube.