Bipolar Electrode for Electrocoagulation of the Inferior Turbinate

Abstract

results. After this a 75 per cent solution was used daily for four treatments with no apparent result. Lastly, the area of the pulsating light reflex was lightly touched with a fused bead of chromic acid, but the patient did not return, and the effect of the chromic acid is therefore unknown. The instrument to be described has been in use for about fifteen years. It consists of two terminal needles of spring brass wire, each 4 cm. in length, protruding from an insulated rubber handle. This measures 16 cm. in length. At the proximal end of the handle, flexible conductor cords lead from each wire and are attached to the proper terminals of the diathermy machine.

‘Two-stage turbinectomy’: Sequestration of the inferior turbinate following submucosal diathermy

“…Conservation of the mucosa overlying the turbinate was considered to be extremely important if this complication was to be avoided. The technique has been practiced since the turn of the century, initially using galvanic current (Neres, 1907) or hot wire, (Horn, 1908), subsequently utilizing unipolar (Beck, 1930) and bipolar (Hurd, 1931) diathermy.…”

“…A bipolar technique described by Hurd (1931) involved the use of twin needles, passed along the medial surface of the turbinate, one above the other. This method had the obvious advantage that the current could be accurately predicted, particularly if the operator first applied the process to a piece of raw beef to guage the correct settings, as suggested by Richardson (1948).…”

Turbinate Surgery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Techniques and Ultrastructural Outcomes

“…A second pass is performed along the inferior medial edge and a third pass midway between the previous passes. This technique is associated with more complications, such as postoperative bleeding, crusts formation, mucosal dryness, edema, and avascular necrosis [60,61].…”

Understanding submucosal electrosurgery for the treatment of nasal turbinate enlargement

“…Neres 4 used a galvanic current and a polished gold needle to pierce the anterior tip of the inferior turbinate. Horn 5 described a technique using a hot wire, and later high frequency submucosal monopolar 6 and bipolar diathermy 7 were used. Submucosal diathermy was popularised by Simpson and Groves in 1958.…”