title: Electrosurgery: part II. Technology, applications, and safety of electrosurgical devices.
abstract: Electrosurgical currents can be delivered to tissue in monopolar or bipolar and monoterminal or biterminal modes, with the primary difference between these modes being their safety profiles. A monopolar electrosurgical circuit includes an active electrode and a dispersive (return) electrode, while there are 2 active electrodes in bipolar mode. In monoterminal mode, there is an active electrode, but there is no dispersive electrode connected to the patient's body and instead the earth acts as the return electrode. Biterminal mode uses a dispersive electrode connected to the patient's body, has a higher maximum power, and can be safer than monoterminal mode in certain situations. Electrosurgical units have different technologies for controlling the output power and for providing safety. A thorough understanding of these technologies helps with a better selection of the appropriate surgical generator and modes.
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Electronic address: arataheri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mansoori
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Laura F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Sandoval
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Phillip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Williford
mesh_terms: D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004566:Electrodes; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D061214:Patient Safety; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: bipolar; biterminal; electrosurgery; high frequency; monopolar; monoterminal; power; radiofrequency