title: Comparison of the effects of different electrocautery applications to peripheral nerves: an experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to investigate the effects of bipolar and mononopolar electrocauterization on peripheral nerve tissue. The comparison on the deleterious effects of the different cautery modalities and the importance of probe tip placement are evaluated using electrophysiological, electron microscopic and biochemical assessment parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight male Wistar albino rats, each weighing 250-275 g, were randomly divided into 14 groups. Each group consisted of seven animals. Monopolar and bipolar electrocautery were performed at 15 watts. The application was performed either directly on the nerve or 1 mm lateral to the longitudinal axis of the nerve for 'near the nerve groups', respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The electrophysiological findings showed that the mean amplitudes were at the lowest value in the first day for all the groups. At the end of the 3rd week, we recognised that the electrophysiological recovery continued. Electron microscopic evaluation showed myelin disruption in all groups. Myelin disruption of healthy neurons was at the highest level in the 1st day of application in accordance with the electrophysiological findings. Biochemical evaluation revealed statistical significance between the control and the two of the 'near the nerve groups' (GIII and GV) for NO (nitrite and nitrate) serum level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data of the present study might suggest that electrocautery, independent of the type and form of application, may result in significant damage in histological and electrophysological basis. Although the relative proportions cannot be ascertained, the time course of recovery suggests that both axon and myelin damage have occurred. The probable electrocautery damage may be of substantial importance for the situation that the nerves are displaced by tumor masses or atypical neural traces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, İhsaniye mah. 4935 sok No:3, 33079, Mersin, Turkey. dagtekin69@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dagtekin
authors.forename: Ulku
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Comelekoglu
authors.forename: Ozlen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bagdatoglu
authors.forename: Necat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Oykut
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dagtekin
authors.forename: Aslihan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koseoglu
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vayisoglu
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karatas
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korkutan
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.forename: Celal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bagdatoglu
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology