ABSTRACT
This chapter examines electrosurgery, citing its most important principle as current. It then looks at bipolar and monopolar modes, waveforms, and grounding. Two groundings are the dispersive electrode pad and electrode monitoring systems. Then some of the tissue effects of electrosurgery, including cutting (electrosection), desiccation and coagulation, and fulguration, are presented. Problems of monopolar electrosurgery during laparoscopic surgery are then analyzed, including insulation failure, direct coupling, and capacitive coupling. Moving on to bipolar electrosurgery, the chapter looks at taking the judgment out of bipolar electrodesiccation. Finally, the chapter concludes by looking at ultrasonic energy.
