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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | JANUARY 2015
The ABC's of Electrosurgery
A pop quiz to test your staff's knowledge.
E
lectrosurgery
units can be
one of the
most dangerous pieces
of equipment in your
OR, mostly because
many surgeons and
staff members don't
understand the basic
principles of electro-
surgery and the best ways to avoid burns. Use this short quiz to
refresh their memories so they can better protect themselves and
your patients.
1. electricity follows the path of least resistance.
a. true b. false
answer: a
Electrosurgery uses a high-frequency current that's converted into
heat as it passes through resistance. The patient's tissue is what pro-
vides resistance. Bone and fat have the greatest resistance, meaning
they are the poorest conductors of electricity, while nerves and mus-
cle have the least resistance. If the tissue is a good conductor, it will
allow easy passage of the current and generate less heat. Resistance
also depends on the path that electricity takes through the body. For
example, if the electricity goes in the patient's left hand and out his
S A F E T Y
Vangie Dennis, RN, BSN, CNOR, CMLSO
z PrOPer PreCaUtiOn When surgeons employ electrosurgery,
be sure they follow protocols to minimize risks of accidental burns.