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The use of electrosurgery in reconstructive and cosmetic maxillofacial surgery.

The electrosurgical incision is not cutting incision but one that causes molecular dissolution along the path of the electrode. This phenomenon helps demonstrate how electrosurgery may be performed with a minimal amount of scar tissue. The atraumatic electrosurgical removal of undesirable tissue of traumatically or pathologically altered parts of the maxillofacial anatomy allows esthetic results equal to and in some cases superior to the steel scalpel. Tissue undergoing electrosurgery must be adequately hydrated for satisfactory results. The surgeon using electrosurgery must be properly trained and thoroughly familiar with electrosurgical techniques. He must also be familiar with the effects of local wound environment on healing.

Adolescent↗

Electrosurgery in dentistry: past and present.

Compared to scalpel surgery, electrosurgery requires more expertise, but the advantages counter the technical complexities. Inexperienced operators should seek continuing education before using electrosurgery. For the operator to obtain predictable results, electrosurgery should be restricted to proven indications for soft-tissue surgery. Contact with alveolar bone, and restorations in vital teeth should be avoided. Lateral-heat accumulation should be minimized by following the principles discussed. Profound anesthesia, and high-speed suction for odor control, should be used to facilitate patients' comfort.

Alveolar Process↗

Histologic evaluation of porcine skin incisions produced by CO2 laser, electrosurgery, and scalpel.

The purpose of this study was to histologically compare the healing of porcine skin incisions made by CO2 laser, electrosurgery, and conventional scalpel. Incisions were made on the dorsal thorax of two microswine at staggered time intervals allowing the harvest of specimens at 0, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postsurgery at the time of sacrifice. Each of the following histologic zones were identified and measured for both laser and electrosurgery incisions: (1) zone of tissue ablation. (2) zone of thermal necrosis, and (3) width of surface damage. The depth of cut and width of surface opening was measured for the scalpel incision. Furthermore, for each specimen, the presence and character of inflammatory cell infiltrate was noted, as well as the relative times at which bridging of the incision by connective tissue and coverage of the wound by an intact epithelial layer had occurred. Results showed that in this wound-healing model, the scalpel incisions produced more defined borders, healed more rapidly, and resulted in less collateral tissue damage than those produced by CO2 laser or electrosurgery. It was also noted that to create a wound 1.29 mm in depth required at least five passes of the laser beam within the same line of incision using 206.4 J/cm2 (6 W, continuous mode).

Animals↗

Electrosurgery in dentistry.

Electrosurgery has been used in dentistry for several decades, but the technique is not widely practiced. This article briefly explains the principles of electrosurgery and attempts to clear up some misunderstandings about the healing of electrosurgical wounds. Clinical application of electrosurgery for the management of some common oral conditions is also described.

Dental Equipment↗

Endobronchial electrosurgery: argon plasma coagulation and electrocautery.

Endobronchial electrosurgery is used to remove endobronchial lesions in the trachea and bronchi, using either a rigid or a flexible bronchoscope. The thermal property of electric current is used to destroy tissue or coagulate bleeding sites. Electrosurgery, electrocautery, electrotherapy, and surgical diathermy are terms often used when referring to the use of heat for tissue destruction. In this article, we specifically use the term electrocautery ( EC) to describe an electrosurgical technique that requires probe-to-tissue contact whereby the conduction of electric current ionizes air resulting in tissue destruction or hemostasis or both. In contrast, argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a relatively new electrosurgical method whereby argon gas is ionized by an electric current to create a noncontact, homogeneous "bridge" to target tissue for coagulation or ablation. Both EC and APC are effective in ablating and coagulating tissue. In this article, we further elucidate the basic principles of electrosurgery; indications, complications, and techniques associated with both EC and APC; and how they compare with other standard endobronchial interventions, including mechanical debridement, laser photoresection, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and brachytherapy.

Journal Article↗

Studies of determinants of glove hole puncture during electrosurgery.

Holes in surgical gloves are considered to be an important source of transmission of pathogens between patient and surgeon. The purpose of this study was to determine if electrosurgery could alter the integrity of latex surgical gloves. The effects of electrosurgery on 11 brands of commercially available latex surgical gloves were tested through an in vitro study that simulated the conditions in the operating room. Glove hole puncture was encountered only with coagulation current operating at the highest setting. In addition, maximal surface area contact with the hemostat to the glove surface was required to produce glove puncture. The presence of powder and glove hydration were not significant determinants of glove hole puncture. On the basis of our study, we believe that all surgical gloves tested offered the surgeon adequate protection at commonly used levels of cutting and coagulation current, as long as no breach existed prior to the donning of gloves.

Electrosurgery↗

Electrosurgery-induced ventricular fibrillation during pacemaker replacement--a unique mechanism.

Arrhythmias and pacemaker malfunction are known to occur from the use of an electrosurgical device. The present case report describes a patient with sick sinus syndrome who experienced ventricular fibrillation while undergoing surgery. During replacement of his non-functioning cardiac pacemaker under general anesthesia, electrosurgery was used to ensure hemostasis. Electric current may have stimulated myocardial leads present in the surrounding tissue, leading to ventricular fibrillation. The patient was resuscitated from the episode without any residual sequelae. Microshock and possible mechanisms that can lead to ventricular arrhythmias in patients with pacemakers during electrosurgery are discussed.

Adult↗

Surgical cure for early rectal carcinoma and large adenoma: transanal endoscopic microsurgery (using ultrasound or electrosurgery) compared to conventional local and radical resection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The minimally invasive technique of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) combines the benefits of local resections, a low complication rate and high patient comfort, with low recurrence rate and excellent survival rate after radical surgery (RS). The use of an ultrasonically activated scalpel rather than electrosurgery further improves the results of TEM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of 182 operations on 162 patients with early rectal carcinoma (pT1, G1/2) or adenoma to compare the outcome following four different kinds of surgical resection techniques: RS (anterior or abdominoperineal resection; n=27), conventional transanal resection using Park's retractor (TP; n=76), transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) with electrosurgery (TEM-ES; n=45), and TEM with UltraCision (TEM-UC; n=34). One-third of the patients with RS (33%) received either a colostomy or a protective loop-ileostomy. RESULTS: Operation time with TEM-UC was significantly shorter than with TEM-ES or RS. Hospitalization was significantly longer with RS than for TEM or TP. Complication rate with TEM was significantly lower than with RS. Recurrence rate with RS and TEM was significantly lower than with TP, with a trend to TEM-UC being better than TEM-ES. Mortality rate was 3.7% with RS and 0 with TP and TEM. The 2-year survival rate was 96.3% with RS and 100% each with TP and TEM. CONCLUSION: TEM using UC seems to be the technique of choice. TP leads to an unacceptable recurrence rate, and RS results in a higher incidence of complication and impairment of life quality.

Adenoma↗

A comparison of healing and pain following excision of inflammatory papillary hyperplasia with electrosurgery and blade-loop knives in human patients.

Twenty human patients participated in a study designed to compare electrosurgery with blade-loop knives for the excision of inflammatory papillary hyperplasia in a split-mouth study. Questionnaires were used to assess pain and patient preference during a 2-week postoperative period, and photographs were made to chronicle the healing process. Healing occurred at approximately the same rate following each procedure. The majority of subjects did not perceive a difference in discomfort with either technique on the day of surgery or at any time during follow-up. Of those who did have a preference, a significant majority favored electrosurgery on the day of treatment. This preference became statistically insignificant on the second postoperative day and beyond.

Adult↗

Self-sterilization of the electrosurgery electrode.

Sterilization of the electrode used in electrosurgery has been assumed to occur at the instant of contact of the energized electrode tip to a grounded source. This study evaluated whether the time of electrode activation or the amount of energy delivered is important in the self-sterilization process. Standard bacteriologic culturing techniques were employed to assess sterility of the electrode tip following activation. Total time of application of the current and the energy used were recorded on audiotape and later tabulated. The data indicate that the time of energizing and the energy units used are critical in the sterilization of the electrode tip. These results confirm that self-sterilization of the electrosurgery electrode tip occurs, but full confidence is not realized with the time intervals commonly employed in clinical practice. The electrode tip must be considered a potential source of bacterial contamination of electrosurgically managed dental procedures.

Electric Conductivity↗

Characterization and mitigation of stray radiofrequency currents during monopolar resectoscopic electrosurgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine patterns and range of stray radiofrequency (RF) currents flowing through the working element of monopolar resectoscopes during routine endometrial rollerball ablation or resection; and to determine whether straightforward modifications of the uterine resectoscope and the application of RF monitoring could provide a safe pathway for such currents. DESIGN: Prospective in vivo measurements (Canadian Task Force classification II-1). SETTING: University-affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Twelve women undergoing resectoscopic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: During routine resectoscopic surgery using 1.5% glycine irrigant solution, three modified 26F Storz resectoscope working elements (model 27070E) were adapted to be continuously monitored with an Encision AEM device for excessive capacitive coupling and other stray currents from insulation failure. Active electrodes used were 3 mm and 5 mm rollberballs and 8 mm-diameter cutting loops powered by ERBE or Valleylab generators at 120 W. Active and working element currents were monitored by Pearson current transformers followed by root-mean-squared detectors based on the Analog Devices AD-637 integrated circuit. Data were recorded using a Fluke 199C oscilloscope, then serially transferred to a notebook computer and analyzed using Flukeview, Excel, and Minitab software. RESULTS: Typical values of working element currents ranged from 0.10 to 0.20 A. Active electrode currents were typically in the range of 0.50 to 1.10 A. Frequently, the working element current exceeded the typical values and ranged up to 0.60 A. These current surges produced a heat factor (I(2)t) of 0.45 A(2).sec in a 10-second period. CONCLUSIONS: During resectoscopic electrosurgery, baseline, most likely capacitive coupled, currents were always present. In addition, high values of working element currents occurred frequently, and they surged up to 0.60 A for significant periods of time. Without the modification of the resectoscopic device, these currents have the capability of flowing through the patient's genital tract and causing burns. Since monopolar electrosurgery remains an integral part of most hysteroscopic procedures, active electrode monitoring may offer a solution in protecting the patient and the surgeon from stray electrosurgical burns.

Adult↗

Education and engineering solutions for potential problems with laparoscopic monopolar electrosurgery.

The potential problems of monopolar electrosurgery relate to unrecognized energy transfer ("stray current") outside the view of the laparoscope. Mechanisms of stray current and unrecognized tissue injury include: (1) insulation breaks in electrodes; (2) capacitive coupling, or induced currents through the intact insulation of the active electrode to surrounding cannulas or other instruments; and (3) direct coupling (or unintended contact) between the active electrode and other metal instruments or cannulas within the abdomen. Capacitive coupling poses the greatest risk for injury when the outer conductor (trocar cannula or irrigation cannula) is electrically isolated from the abdominal wall by a plastic nonconductor. Capacitive coupling is increased by the coagulation mode (versus cut), open circuit (versus tissue contact with the electrode), 5-mm cannulas (versus 11 mm), and higher voltage generators. The safety of electrosurgery can be enhanced by surgical education regarding the biophysics of radio frequency electrical energy, technical choices in instruments using all-metal cannula systems, and engineering developments with a dynamically monitored system for insulation failure and capacitive coupling.

Electric Conductivity↗

Eutectic lidocaine/prilocaine 5% cream and patch may provide satisfactory analgesia for excisional biopsy or curettage with electrosurgery of cutaneous lesions. A randomized, controlled, parallel group study.

BACKGROUND: Needle puncture and infiltrational anesthesia is generally required for minor cutaneous surgical procedures and may be associated with anxiety, fear, discomfort, and pain. The use of topical anesthetics such as eutectic lidocaine/prilocaine 5% cream may provide an alternative means of delivering anesthesia. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of eutectic lidocaine/prilocaine 5% cream applied under either occlusive adhesive dressing (Tegaderm) or patch formulation in providing analgesia for removal of lesions 40 mm long or shorter on the trunk or extremities; removal was effected by excisional biopsy or curettage with electrosurgery. METHODS: One hundred six patients (58 men, 48 women), 22 to 90 years of age, participated in this open-labeled, randomized, controlled, parallel group study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 2.5 to 5 gm of cream applied under an occlusive dressing or a 1.0 gm single-dose-unit patch. The topical anesthetic was removed 2 to 3 hours after application and just before surgery. This area was then tested for analgesia to pinprick. If analgesia was insufficient to the pinprick or during the surgical procedure, lidocaine infiltration was given. Patients rated the pain of the surgical procedure on a 100 mm visual analog scale. RESULTS: After application times of 110 to 180 minutes, effective anesthesia was achieved in 87% of subjects. Treatment with the patch was equal to the cream/Tegaderm dressing in reducing pain experienced during surgery. No significant difference was found between the adhesiveness of the two dressings; however, the patch was easier to apply than the cream/ Tegaderm. No unexpected adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: For minor skin surgical procedures involving excisional biopsy or curettage with electrosurgery, eutectic lidocaine/prilocaine 5% cream/Tegaderm and patch formulations were equally effective and provided effective anesthesia in 87% of subjects. The patch formulation may be more convenient for self-application.

Adhesiveness↗

Standing endoscopic electrosurgery.

Common equine upper respiratory conditions are diagnosed via endoscopy. Endoscopic surgery facilitates correction of many conditions without general anesthesia or laryngotomy, reducing the morbidity and cost of the procedures. Modalities of endoscopic surgery include the Nd-YAG laser or electrosurgery, which may be complementary. The least expensive method is electrosurgery, and instruments are available that can be passed through the biopsy channel of the endoscope. Conditions amenable to such procedures include entrapped epiglottis, rostral displacement of the palatopharyngeal arch, pharyngeal cysts or polyps, retropharyngeal abscesses within the guttural pouch, guttural pouch tympany, and ethmoid hematoma.

Animals↗

Curettage, electrosurgery and skin cancer.

The scientific literature is replete with reports extolling the virtues of curettage and electrosurgery in the treatment of skin disease. Published cure rates for selected skin cancers consistently equal those for other treatment modalities, including scalpel excision. Despite this, curettage is often overlooked as a first line treatment for skin cancer. We review the evidence-based literature for patient selection criteria and curettage and electrosurgery techniques.

Bowen's Disease↗

Excision of rhinophyma with high-frequency electrosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Rhinophyma is an uncommon progressive disfiguring process of the lower nasal region that most commonly affects middle-aged white men. It is characterized by painless hyperplasia of the sebaceous and subcutaneous tissues, in the end stage, resulting in a bulbous nodular telangiectatic nose. Surgical modalities of treatment include electrosurgery, laser ablation, dermabrasion, cryosurgery, scalpel excision, and others. OBJECTIVE: We present two patients with rhinophyma who were treated with the Ellman Surgitron using high-frequency current. METHODS: Two patients with significant rhinophyma and associated subcutaneous abscesses underwent excision with the Ellman Surgitron using high-frequency electrosurgery with a wire loop. The sebaceous hypertrophy was shaved down to the level of the normal skin surface. RESULTS: This technique provided a quick, efficient, bloodless operative field with a good cosmetic result and pain-free postoperative recovery. Photographs were taken at regular intervals to document the healing process. CONCLUSION: The Ellman Surgitron uses high-frequency current to achieve a bloodless field in the treatment of rhinophyma. This enabled efficient and quick removal of hypertrophied tissue with a good cosmetic result and an essentially pain-free recovery. This radiofrequency device is well suited for the outpatient setting and offers advantages over the other modalities used to treat rhinophyma.

Aged↗

Electrosurgery: high-frequency modalities.

The most popular form of electrosurgery used in cutaneous surgery involves the application of high voltage electromagnetic energy in the form of a damped sine wave. This form of current may be applied by electrofulguration, electrodesiccation, or electrocoagulation. The principles involved in the application of these three forms of electrosurgery are discussed.

Dermatologic Surgical Procedures↗

Wound healing of skin incisions produced by ultrasonically vibrating knife, scalpel, electrosurgery, and carbon dioxide laser.

An ultrasonically vibrating knife has been developed for producing surgical incisions with reduced hemorrhage. Tissue injury and wound healing of porcine cutaneous incisions produced by this instrument, conventional scalpel, electrosurgery, and CO2 laser were compared regarding clinical, histopathologic, and tensile strength differences. Scalpel incisions had the least tissue injury and fastest healing, but the ultrasonically vibrating knife produced less tissue injury and faster healing than electrosurgery or CO2 laser.

Animals↗