What is electrosurgical pencil?

Electrosurgical pencil a.k.a. Cautery Pencil is a medical device used to fulgurate, coagulate, cut or dissect biological tissue by the applying electric current. It uses Radio Frequency Alternating Current or RFAC.

What is the definition of electrosurgery?

Listen to pronunciation. (ee-LEK-troh-SER-juh-ree) A procedure that uses an electric current to cut, remove, or destroy tissue and control bleeding. The current is carried through an electrode that is placed on or near the tissue.

What is electrosurgery used for?

Electrosurgery is a technique often used in surgery to control bleeding and to rapidly dissect soft tissue in surgery. The electrical resistance of these soft tissues to an electromagnetic current generates heat. The endpoints of electrosurgery vary based on the waveform, power used, and surgical technique.

What is the electrocautery used for?

A procedure that uses heat from an electric current to destroy abnormal tissue, such as a tumor or other lesion. It may also be used to control bleeding during surgery or after an injury. The electric current passes through an electrode that is placed on or near the tissue.

How is electrosurgery performed?

In electrosurgery, the patient is included in the circuit and current enters the patient’s body. During electrocautery, current does not enter the patient’s body. Instead, current flows through a heating element, which burns the tissue by direct transfer of heat.

Why is electrocautery used?

Electrocauterization (or electrocautery) is often used in surgery to remove unwanted or harmful tissue. It can also be used to burn and seal blood vessels. This helps reduce or stop bleeding during surgery or after an injury. It is a safe procedure.

What is a cautery pencil used for?

Electrosurgical pencils, also known as cautery pencils are used during electrosurgery procedures. They are used to cut biological tissue and control bleeding through Radio Frequency Alternating Current (RFAC).

What instrument is used for cauterization?

Electrosurgical pencils are the pen-like instrument used to both make and cauterize incisions during electrosurgical procedures.

Is electrocautery and electrosurgery the same?

Often, the term ‘electrocautery’ is incorrectly used to describe electrosurgery. Electrocautery refers to direct current (electrons flowing in one direction) whereas electrosurgery uses alternating current. In electrosurgery, the patient is included in the circuit and current enters the patient’s body.

How effective are electrosurgical devices for surgical incisions?

Electrosurgical devices also are effective if used appropriately. Chad J. Smith, Luis Melendez, in Clinical Engineering Handbook, 2004 The electrosurgical unit, or Bovie, is a surgical device used to incise tissue, destroy tissue through desiccation, and to control bleeding (hemostasis) by causing the coagulation of blood.

What is an electrosurgical unit?

Luis Melendez, in Clinical Engineering Handbook, 2004 The electrosurgical unit, or Bovie, is a surgical device used to incise tissue, destroy tissue through desiccation, and to control bleeding (hemostasis) by causing the coagulation of blood.

What is electrosurgery used for in eye surgery?

Ismael Cordero Electrosurgery is used routinely in eye surgery to cut, coagulate, dissect, fulgurate, ablate and shrink tissue. High frequency (100 kilohertz to 5 megahertz), alternating electric current at various voltages (200–10,000 Volts) is passed through tissue to generate heat.

How does electrocautery work in surgery?

The electrocautery unit (Bovie, cautery, or electrosurgical unit) (Figure 23-35, A) uses high-frequency electrical energy to cut tissue or coagulate bleeding. The preferential conduction of electrical energy by blood vessels facilitates coagulation.