During Surgery
4-6 Force 2 User’s Guide
During Surgery
Monopolar Electrosurgery
Monopolar electrosurgery includes cutting, fulguration, and desiccation.
Cutting and fulguration involve sparking across an air gap to tissue.
Desiccation puts the greatest demand on the patient return electrode
during monopolar electrosurgery because the active electrode directly
touches the tissue, and more current reaches the patient since it does not
have to overcome the high impedance of air. Fulguration can cause
accidental sparking to adjacent areas as the tissue at the surgical site dries
and becomes more resistant.
Microbipolar Electrosurgery
Microbipolar systems provide desiccation and minimize damage to
tissues adjacent to the surgical site by incorporating the active and return
electrodes in the same device. This limits the amount of tissue in the
electrosurgical circuit. Microbipolar output provides the following
advantages over monopolar output:
• limited collateral tissue damage
• reduced electromagnetic interference with both video and other
monitoring equipment
• reduced capacitive coupling
Microbipolar procedures may therefore be performed in confined surgical
sites where high levels of precision and control are required.
Recommendations During Surgery
Refer to Section 1, Patient and Operating Room Safety for further
information.
Keep the power settings as low as possible to enhance patient safety.
If higher than normal power settings are required, check the patient return
electrode and the generator connecting cables for proper application
and/or continuity.
Remove eschar buildup from electrodes to maximize surgical effect.
Avoid unnecessary and prolonged activation of the generator to reduce
the possibility of alternate site burns that may be caused by RF leakage
currents.
When using multiple accessories, keep the cables separate. To reduce
cross coupling, do not twist, bundle, or clamp the cables together.
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