Histologic Comparison of Canine Skin Biopsies Collected Using Monopolar Electrosurgery, CO₂ Laser, Radiowave Radiosurgery, Skin Biopsy Punch, and Scalpel

Abstract

Excision of canine skin biopsies with heat-generating devices may not allow reliable histologic interpretation, particularly when assessing margins of small biopsy specimens. RWRS may be less traumatic to canine skin than monopolar electrosurgery and CO2 laser when used to make incisions.

Six years of evidence-based adult dissection tonsillectomy with ultrasonic scalpel, bipolar electrocautery, bipolar radiofrequency or ‘cold steel’ dissection

“…15 Whether trauma is mechanical (due to cold tonsillectomy methods) or thermal (due to hot methods), its extent has been shown to affect the rate of healing. 12 In the current study, the bipolar electrocautery group had a slower rate of tonsil healing than the other three groups. It could be supposed that gentle cold steel tonsillectomy dissection would produce the least histopathological damage of all the methods studied.…”

“…The high radiofrequency waves used in bipolar radiofrequency cases coagulates and disrupts the tonsil pedicles at the same time, through a process of cell volatilisation and explosion. 4,12 Adult tonsillectomy is often associated with a considerable amount of post-operative pain. In the present study, the bipolar electrocautery group experienced the worst post-operative pain profile of the four study groups.…”

“…Silverman et al showed that radiofrequency induced significantly less lateral thermal injury and charring penetration than CO 2 laser or electrocautery, using a canine skin model 12. …”

Facilitation of Soft Tissue Surgery

“…47 Studies to examine the effectiveness and speed of these devices in procedures, collateral damage to tissue, blood loss, and use in minimally invasive surgery have been done and support their use in veterinary surgery. 22,40,45,46,[48][49][50][51][52] Benefits that have been noted include efficient and complete hemostasis of vessels, adequate arterial bursting pressure, absence of foreign material, and no need for additional ligation support. 44 In a study by Rivier and Monnet,44 it was determined that use of a vessel sealant device (Ligasure) provided adequate hemostasis and would provide adequate resistance to blood pressure in splenectomies when the splenic vessel and other associated vessels were isolated and coagulated.…”

Healing comparison of porcine cutaneous incisions made with cold steel scalpel, standard electrosurgical blade, and a novel tissue dissector

“…Lasers, for example, are useful at cutting where coagulation is desired, but because of the collateral tissue damage, they are not recommended for primary skin incisions when cosmetic results are important [2,3]. Conventional electrosurgery has similar shortcomings and a number of studies have shown delayed wound healing attributable to thermal damage [4][5][6][7][8].…”