Electrosurgery is the use of high-frequency alternating electrical current applied to tissue to cut, coagulate, desiccate or fulgurate during a surgical procedure. The current heats tissue at the cellular level, causing cell death and protein coagulation at moderate temperatures and rapid vaporization at higher temperatures, letting a surgeon cut tissue and control bleeding at the same time. It differs from simple electrocautery, which uses a heated probe rather than passing current through the tissue itself. Electrosurgical devices are used across most surgical specialties, from dermatology to neurosurgery, in both hospital operating rooms and outpatient settings, mainly to reduce blood loss during an operation.
Facts
Origin YearSourced to the subject's own account Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrosurgery, lead sectionQuote, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrosurgery, lead section
Electrosurgery is the application of a high-frequency alternating polarity, electrical current to biological tissue as a means to cut, coagulate, desiccate, or fulgurate tissue.
2. Electrosurgery (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHistory section, first electrosurgical generator used October 1, 1926Quote, History section, first electrosurgical generator used October 1, 1926
The first use of an electrosurgical generator in an operating room occurred on October 1, 1926 at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is electrosurgery different from simple electrocautery
Electrosurgery passes electrical current directly through the tissue itself, while electrocautery only applies heat from an already hot probe.
Electrosurgery uses high frequency alternating electrical current applied to tissue to cut, coagulate, desiccate or fulgurate during a surgical procedure, heating tissue at the cellular level so a surgeon can cut tissue and control bleeding at the same time. It differs from simple electrocautery, which uses a heated probe rather than passing current through the tissue itself. Electrosurgical devices are used across most surgical specialties, from dermatology to neurosurgery, in both hospital operating rooms and outpatient settings, mainly to reduce blood loss during an operation.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
Choose a year to see this entry's facts and connections as the atlas records them at that moment: what it held then, what it held instead, and what it had not yet adopted. Choose Present for the current record.