While today's generation of electrosurgery generators has seen vast improvement since the first electrosurgical device was used successfully in 1926, the principle remains the same. Electrosurgery enables doctors to make precise cuts during surgical procedures while simultaneously helping in the prevention of blood loss during operations of all types. Electrosurgical equipment is now routinely used in a variety of medical areas, including:
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Ocular
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Gynecological
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Dermatological
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Spinal
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ENT
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Plastic
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Orthopedic
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Neurological
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Cardiac
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Urological
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Miscellaneous general surgical procedures, including dental
While there is no question regarding the efficacy of employing electrosurgery in a wide range of medical procedures, there are also several potential safety hazards associated with its use. While today's modern electrosurgical generators have built-in safety features that offer many safety features, the possibility of a fire or explosion happening is a safety hazard that can only be eliminated by adhering to certain safety precautions when one is operating this type of equipment. Some simple fire-safety guidelines include:
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Removal of any flammable liquids such as alcohol-based solutions from the operating area
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Awareness of the dangers involved when working in an oxygen-rich environment or one containing oxidizing agents such as nitrous oxide
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Consideration of specific areas of the patient's body, such as the bowel, where there may be an accumulation of naturally occurring flammable gases
Because the sparks produced when using electrosurgical generators are an obvious potential source of ignition, proper fire-safety precautions must be observed at all times. If you are involved in the use of this type of equipment, ongoing education is essential to ensure its safe and proper operation. Additionally, employment of an effective smoke evacuation or ventilation system should be considered to prevent the inhalation of noxious smoke and vapors produced during electrosurgical operations.
While the above-mentioned hazards exist and are inherent in the use of electrosurgery generators, they are also controllable through proper use and care. Education is critical, as the best safety system is a knowledgeable user. At Bovie Medical Corporation, the first name in electrosurgery, we offer a free eBook containing electrosurgery generator safety guidelines that can be downloaded from our website. We've got you covered.
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