Irrigation-coupled bipolar cautery unit: A practical, economical, and simple version

Abstract

Hemostasis is a fundamental principle of surgery for which electrocoagulation is universally used. Bipolar electrocautery has an advantage over monopolar electrocautery in terms of the precision of the extent of tissue coagulation and the lateral extent of thermal tissue injury. However, secondary to the thermal changes induced in the tissue due to electric current passage, there is charring of tissue, which adheres to the cautery tip. This, not only decreases its effectiveness, but also, by getting avulsed while removing the cautery tip from the surgical field, causes rebleeding and more trauma to the tissue. Irrigation of the surgical field during application of cautery reduces the charring effect, thereby improving the efficiency and efficacy. Irrigation-coupled electrocautery devices are available but are costly to acquire and maintain. We describe a simple and reliable version of an irrigation-coupled cautery device, which is of immense functional utility in our experience. It decreases the amount of charring of the tissue and its adherence to the bipolar forceps tips, thereby decreasing the frustrating loss of effectiveness and also increases the life of the bipolar forceps as cleaning needs to be less frequent. By virtue of its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, it can be used in almost all hospitals and situations.

Differences in the Levels of Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC) and Formaldehyde in Cigarette Smoke and Electrocautery Produced Smoke in Orthopaedic Surgery at IGNG Ngoerah (Sanglah) Denpasar General Hospital

“…Tools and materials that can be used in its manufacture include bipolar electrocautery, sterile strips, infusion fluids (NaCl 0.9%), infusion hoses, and scissors. The stage in making it is cut at the end of the infusion hose by removing the rubber part and then on the other side it is inserted into the infusion fluid [30]. Fixation of the end of the infusion hose is carried out using sterile strips on the outer side of the end of the electrocautery.…”

“…Fixation of the end of the infusion hose is carried out using sterile strips on the outer side of the end of the electrocautery. In its use for a year, it was reported that using a combination of electrocautery and infusion fluid simultaneously resulted in a decrease in tissue adhesion/adhesion, tissue scorching, the formation of surgical fumes, and enhancing the coagulation effect of tissues [28]- [30].…”