title: Electrosurgery thermal injury. Myth or misconception?
abstract: Two sets of experiments were conducted to determine whether the potential hazards of secondary sparking and distal tissue burns are a serious risk for surgeons using monopolar electrosurgery during laparoscopy. The results indicate that secondary sparking poses little threat, whereas distal burns are very likely, given certain tissue parameters that force the entire electric current through narrow structures.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Laparoscopy Training Center, Kennestone Hospital, Marietta, Georgia.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Saye
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hertzmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000209:etiology*; D002244:Carbon; D002417:Cattle; D004553:Electric Conductivity / Q000502:physiology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006813:Humidity; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D013817:Thermography; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon