First Year Fellows Endoscopy Course (Aug 1-2)

3-Electrocautery

Pdf Summary

The document discusses the basics of electrocautery, focusing on electrosurgical terms, the function of electrosurgical generators, and the principles of applying electrosurgery to endoscopy. It explains how electrosurgery produces heat at the cellular level and the different temperature/thermal effects on cells. The document also covers the different waveforms and the effects they have on tissue. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the resistance and impedance of different tissues and the role of grounding pads in completing the electrical circuit. The document provides guidelines for safe pad placement and precautions to take when dealing with patients with pacemakers or ICDs. It explains the concept of current density and how it affects the energy delivered by the snare. The document introduces argon plasma coagulation (APC), its advantages, and its various applications. It discusses the factors to consider when using APC and emphasizes the responsibility of the physician in understanding and setting up the electrosurgical equipment. Overall, the document serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the principles, techniques, and applications of electrocautery in endoscopy.

Keywords

electrocautery

electrosurgical terms

electrosurgical generators

endoscopy

waveforms

tissue effects

grounding pads

pacemakers

argon plasma coagulation

physician responsibility