standing of how electrosurgery works.
monitoring device can also alert you to
That's why routine inspection, testing,
insulation breakdown while performing its
maintenance and staff training are essen-
preventive task of overseeing the electro-
tial to electrosurgery safety.
surgical current — and shutting it down if
• Direct coupling is the result of an active
monopolar electrode touching an uninsu-
it detects stray energy, to minimize potential injuries.
lated metal object, which conducts the
current to adjacent tissue. Most physicians
Never again
who employ electrosurgery know to avoid
Patient burns in the perioperative setting
touching devices' tips to other metal
are 100% preventable, but awareness, edu-
instruments or implants, but even metals
cation and action are required to ensure
outside of the immediate operative site,
patients remain safe in your care. By com-
such as the surgical table, positioners,
municating the risks to staff, reporting inci-
stands, poles and gown snaps, can also
dents and utilizing available guidance, you'll
conduct current and should be adequately
ensure these never events never occur on
covered.
your watch. OSM
• Capacitive coupling can unintentionally
burn tissue or skin when electrical current
passes between conductors (even insulat-
Ms. Burns (mmb g @lig httub e.net) is director
of clinical affairs and medical education for
Symmetry Surgical, and a business consultant
for the Surgical Group of Tullahoma (Tenn.).
ed ones) that are close to each other. This
is sometimes the result of current leaking
through damaged insulation, which underscores the importance of routinely inspecting the condition of electrosurgical units'
insulation. Even breaches that aren't visible to the naked eye can be hazardous, so
consider the use of an insulation scanner
HEAT IS ON
Light sources and
other electrical
equipment can
generate enough
heat to burn
through drapes.
Mike Shelton, RN,
demonstrates for
clinical manager
Kristen Barnes,
RN (left), and
Jennifer Barbeau,
RN, at Tullahoma
Surgery Center.
while setting up cases. An active electrodeJ A N U A R Y 2013 | S U P P L E M E N T
TO
O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E
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